Have you ever wondered why we celebrate New Year on January 1st?! Rather than any other day – as some very ancient cultures did?
The answer is simple: Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in the year 1582 .This calendar was to be used in all Catholic countries, and to replaced the Julian calendar – started by Julius Cesar – that had some inconsistencies. So the Julian calendar marked January 1st as the first day of the year in relation to an ancient Roman tradition honoring the two-faced deity “Janus” – he was the god of beginnings and transitions. This tradition was carried over into the Gregorian calendar, and with time, January 1st become the global standard with growing trade and colonialism, since the world needed one calendar everyone could follow for setting international standards for civil and business purposes. Even countries with lively ancient traditions that maintained their own traditional calendars for religious or cultural events ended up having to follow the global norm – the Gregorian calendar. Celebrating the new year on January 1st is a remnant of roman culture and results from historical commercial necessity.
The interesting thing is that January 1st really is NOT the first day of a new year in terms of the natural cycles of life on earth… In fact, many ancient cultures celebrated the new year on another day – on December 21st – the day of the Winter Solstice. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin solstitium, meaning “standstill.” The Winter Solstice is the day when the sun seemingly “stands still,” because the sun’s path across the sky appears to pause before reversing direction… This is an annual astronomical event.
The winter solstice — and the four seasons — occur because Earth is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to the sun. Earth does not rotate on a straight axis. This means that the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year as our planet moves around the sun. This is why, depending on how much sunlight a specific area receives, there will be a different season in place. The Northern Hemisphere receives scant daylight during its wintertime months, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences the opposite — summer prevails during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter and enduring winter just as the Northern Hemisphere basks in summertime. In December, on winter solstice day, there are fewer hours of sunlight the farther north you go in the Northern Hemisphere. People in this hemisphere might also notice that the sun is not that high in the sky, even at noon.
So the winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the whole year. As such, it heralds the official start of Winter, in anticipation of Spring. Starting December 21 to March 21, the days get gradually warmer and longer. December 21st is in many ways the “zero point” of the sun’s annual journey. The still mid-point. It marks an end that ushers in a new beginning.
This is why many ancient cultures upheld this day as the day of new beginnings or a new year. It’s all about the sun. For ancient cultures, across history and continents, the sun was far more than a celestial body: it was the ultimate source of life. Through it law and order were established in the universe as well as in individual and collective lives -through seasonal events and rituals marking the progression of the sun in the sky. Many ancient cultures personified the sun as a supreme deity, and studied its daily journey across the sky, watching how it maintained the cosmic order through the flow of time and the seasons.
The solstice was seen as the day of the rebirth of the sun, and therefore symbolized a time of personal rebirth and renewal with the return of light. Here are some example of ancient “sun worship” sites:
The Stonehenge in the UK: built around 2500 BC, its main axis aligns with the midwinter sunset and thousands gather annually to witness the sun’s alignment; Chichén Itzáin Mexico: On the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun creates a shadow on the El Castillo pyramid that looks like a serpent slithering down the steps; Newgrangein Ireland: This prehistoric tomb is designed so that a beam of light enters the inner chamber only during the winter solstice sunrise.
Furthermore, in ancient Egypt, Ra – the sun, creature of all life - was considered the “king of the Gods.” He was believed to sail across the sky in a solar barque, or boat, by day and battle the serpent Apophis in the underworld by night to ensure the sun would rise again. The Inca worshiped Inti as their most important god and the direct ancestor of their emperors. They built the Coricancha (Temple of the Sun) in Cusco, which was once covered in gold to reflect the sun’s brilliance. For the Aztecs, the sun was a warrior in a constant struggle against darkness. They believed the sun required nourishment to stay strong enough to complete its journey. In Ancient Greece, Helios was the personification of the physical sun, often depicted driving a four-horse chariot. Over time, Apollo, the god of light and reason, became heavily conflated with solar worship.
What about the vedic tradition? Is the Winter Solstice also the beginning of a new year for the ancient Indians? Ancient vedic India had a highly elaborate and accurate system of calendars based on the cycles of the sun AND the moon! So things are a bit more detailed and complex. Based on this ancient lunar-solar calendar the new year falls not on the Winter Solstice day, but somewhere between March and April. The Vedic New Year is not just a calendar shift based on the numbers of days in a year etc. Nor is it just marked by the Winter Solstice. It results from detailed calculation that are tied to the creation of the cosmos itself. In this sense, the vedic new year commemorates Brahma, the creator god, who brings the cosmos, as well as time, into existence. That is why the vedic new year coincides with Spring, and marks a time for fresh starts, where frozen energy starts to flow and material existence literally blooms and blossoms. This year, the vedic new year will be on March 19, 2026. This marks the beginning of Chaitra Navaratri in the calendar of Vikram Samvat.
So why does this all matter? Where does this information take us in ayurvedic terms?
More than just an astronomical event, the Winter Solstice marks a great shift in our bodies, when the earth resumes its journey towards the sun, and the days start to get longer and warmer. But very very slowly – it takes time for things to thaw. And before the spectacular flourish of spring arrives, earth, along with our bodies, goes through a deep hibernation. It takes time for life to resurface, and for the next few weeks and months, as the weather remains cold and cool, our body’s physical channels – shrotas – are shrunk and impede circulation. You may feel more achy, more heavy, and prana vata will feel high making you less grounded and spacey! This is why it is important to sleep on time, and indulge in longer hours of sleep. In addition, shrunken shrotas may lead you you to crave more sweets and heavy rich foods. Vaidya Mishra taught that “winter is the best season for perfect health.” Why? Because the cold weather “traps” our pachak agni in the stomach and stokes it, so you not only crave richer heavier meals, but you CAN also digest them better. A big appetite and high digestive fire are the best two prerequisites for health.
So in this festive season, it is ok to let go and celebrate with friends and family, and feed your agni! AND key point is to NOT start dieting/detoxing after January 1st. This is NOT a good time for weightless or any type of detox. Nature does not support elimination, it rather requires nourishment. Trying to detox when your shrotas are clogged and heavy may results in complications.
So let this new year be truly a new beginning for you. One where you re-shuffle things in your life in alignment with the sun and the cycles of time and seasons that derive from the presence or absence of the sun. What does this mean? This: on January first, and for the next couple of months, stay low and be slow! Do no resist, rather: go with the flow of Mother Earth. Reset your biological clock to match the circadian rhythms of nature for daily activities and rest, and follow the seasonal tempo for diet – eat all you wish and more! Just stay on track with the sun, and ’honor’ the winter season – embrace all its gifts of sharpened digestive fire and blissful health: turn inwards, allow yourself to rest without guilt, and softly build new dreams – your rebirth and new beginnings will come with the Spring!
~ What Would Life be Without Our Favorite SVA Pranic Formulations ~
Why Everybody Loves SVA
Testimonials – and more!
How to Use your Roll-on Or Oil:
For Sleep/Relaxation: Apply to feet, legs, shoulders, and lower back, 20 minutes before sleep.
For Muscle Recovery: Massage onto sore areas after or before exercise.
For Skin: Use as a daily moisturizer to hydrate and soothe – specially on feet and legs. Do not use on the face. May use on neck and shoulder areas.
For Digestion: Apply to the abdomen with circular motions to encourage bowel movement
Transdermal SVA Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, will help with cramps, spasms, tension, and post-workout soreness; it will Calms your nervous system, reduce stress, lower cortisol, and promote better sleep by easing tense muscles. It will also improve your overall circulation and enhance skin vitality in your extremetieis – hands and feet where circulation tends to be slow.
How much Magnesium do we need?
Roll-on: you will get around 180mg of magnesium per 5ml - this translates into applying the roll-on back and forth 2-3 times.
Transdermal cream or Massage oils: A deodorant roll-on might have 280mg of magnesium (as hydroxide/chloride) per 1ml application – about 1 tsp.
There are many brands of topical Magnesium lotions on the market. But the SVA brand stands apart as it combines ayurvedic pranic wisdom with modern scientific know-how. Don’t take our word for it, see what our patrons are saying about it below…
MORE VIT D FOR MORE HEALTH!
DETOX & RELAAAAAX!
DAILY TONIC: DELICIOUS TOO!
MAGNESIUM: Less Stress!
EYECARE – EVERYDAY.
MORNING BREWS …
SLEEP: BETTER NATURALLY!
ORAL CARE – & DELICIOUS TOO!
ROSE: FOR BODY, MIND, AND HEART
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Each one of our gift bags contains samples of Gymnema Brew, Vaidya’s Cup, Rose Preserve, Chyawanprash, Vit D Deodorant, Lipbalm, Turmeric Soap, Ashwagandha, and Neem, plus 2 flavors of SVAdanta toothpaste! A perfect gift for yourself during your holiday travels or for your loved ones…
(Gift bag comes with minimum purchase of $301)
How to Use your Roll-on Or Oil:
For Sleep/Relaxation: Apply to feet, legs, shoulders, and lower back, 20 minutes before sleep.
For Muscle Recovery: Massage onto sore areas after or before exercise.
For Skin: Use as a daily moisturizer to hydrate and soothe – specially on feet and legs. Do not use on the face. May use on neck and shoulder areas.
For Digestion: Apply to the abdomen with circular motions to encourage bowel movement
Transdermal SVA Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, will help with cramps, spasms, tension, and post-workout soreness; it will Calms your nervous system, reduce stress, lower cortisol, and promote better sleep by easing tense muscles. It will also improve your overall circulation and enhance skin vitality in your extremetieis – hands and feet where circulation tends to be slow.
How much Magnesium do we need?
Roll-on: you will get around 180mg of magnesium per 5ml - this translates into applying the roll-on back and forth 2-3 times.
Transdermal cream or Massage oils: A deodorant roll-on might have 280mg of magnesium (as hydroxide/chloride) per 1ml application – about 1 tsp.
There are many brands of topical Magnesium lotions on the market. But the SVA brand stands apart as it combines ayurvedic pranic wisdom with modern scientific know-how. Don’t take our word for it, see what our patrons are saying about it below…
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
20% STOREWIDE SALE PLUS FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING PLUS FREE GIFT POUCH – HO! HO! HO!
OUR
BIGGEST & MERRIEST SALE
of the Year…
PLUS A GIFT POUCH!
Each one of our gift bags contains samples of Gymnema Brew, Vaidya’s Cup, Rose Preserve, Chyawanprash, Vit D Deodorant, Lipbalm, Turmeric Soap, Ashwagandha, and Neem, plus 2 flavors of SVAdanta toothpaste! A perfect gift for yourself during your holiday travels or for your loved ones…
(Gift bag comes with minimum purchase of $301)
“Cool & Composed”
– within a minute –
with
Topical Magnesium
What is magnesium and what does it do? Simply put: Magnesium is a crucial nutrient our body needs to stay healthy. Why? Because Magnesium helps facilitate many bio-chemical processes, including regulating muscles, optimal nerve function, blood sugar and blood pressure levels. It also helps make protein, builds bone tissue, and supports optimal DNA. Magnesium is very important for healthy bones. People with optimal levels of magnesium have a higher bone mineral density, which is important in reducing the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis, specially as they age. Getting more magnesium from foods or dietary supplements might help older women improve their bone mineral density. Beware though, because high intakes of magnesium from dietary supplements and medications can cause diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramping. Extremely high intakes of magnesium can lead to irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest. People who have migraine headaches sometimes have low levels of magnesium in their blood and other tissues. The amount of magnesium you need depends on your age and sex. Average daily recommended amounts are listed are as follows: in milligrams (mg)between the ages of 30-70: for men 400-420 mg, and women: 300-320mg.
Magnesium is found naturally in many foods and it is also added to some “fortified foods.” A good natural diet is key for optimal levels, and you can get recommended amounts of magnesium by eating a variety of foods, including the following:
Legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables (such as spinach)
Milk, yogurt, and some other milk products
In addition, some fortified breakfast cereals and other fortified foods may help.
We should get most of our nutrients from food and beverages, according to the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Foods contain vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and other components that benefit health, they are natural and easier on the body in terms of digestion and absorption. However, sometimes this is not enough. And we need to have recourse to additional supplementation. Oral supplementation puts added strain on the the stomach, liver, and absorption, specially if the body is already fatigued and over-extended. That is why Vaidya Mishra introduced his topical transdermal ayurvedic creams, roll-ons, and oils. You get the full benefit without further straining the physiology, and you get immediate results as well. There are many types of Magnesium available. The best and easiest to absorb is Magnesium Chloride. This active type of Magnesium is sourced from the Zechstein Sea.
How to Use your Roll-on Or Oil:
For Sleep/Relaxation: Apply to feet, legs, shoulders, and lower back, 20 minutes before sleep.
For Muscle Recovery: Massage onto sore areas after or before exercise.
For Skin: Use as a daily moisturizer to hydrate and soothe – specially on feet and legs. Do not use on the face. May use on neck and shoulder areas.
For Digestion: Apply to the abdomen with circular motions to encourage bowel movement
Transdermal SVA Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, will help with cramps, spasms, tension, and post-workout soreness; it will Calms your nervous system, reduce stress, lower cortisol, and promote better sleep by easing tense muscles. It will also improve your overall circulation and enhance skin vitality in your extremetieis – hands and feet where circulation tends to be slow.
How much Magnesium do we need?
Roll-on: you will get around 180mg of magnesium per 5ml – this translates into applying the roll-on back and forth 2-3 times.
Transdermal cream or Massage oils: A deodorant roll-on might have 280mg of magnesium (as hydroxide/chloride) per 1ml application – about 1 tsp.
There are many brands of topical Magnesium lotions on the market. But the SVA brand stands apart as it combines ayurvedic pranic wisdom with modern scientific know-how. Don’t take our word for it, see what our patrons are saying about it below…
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
20% STOREWIDE SALE PLUS FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING (minimum purchase $201 required)
The BIGGEST & MERRIEST SALE of the Year!
You Can Unstress
Within Seconds!
Modern medicine has identified stress as THE leading cause of disease! Most of us experience that the demands of life continue to increase with each passing year. If we are unable to cope, we accumulate stress and fatigue, which adversely affects health.
Ayurveda gives us many answers to address stress. And herbs. Ashwagandha might be the best among them all! Ashwagandha is a world-famous adaptogenic herb that not only helps us cope with stress, but it is also a wonderful herb for improving stamina. In fact, ashwa is the Sanskrit word for ‘horse’; and gandha is the word for ‘smell’. But another meaning of gandha is ‘essential character’. It is the character of horses to be strong. They possess great endurance and can easily cope with ever increasing workloads. Ashwagandha strengthens the nervous system and gives us the ability to withstand the ever-increasing demands of life.
Rasayana and Balya
Ashwagandha is a famous rasayana. The Charak Samhita defines rasayana: yad jarabhyadi nashanam tad rasayanam (that which slows aging and removes imbalances is rasayana.) In addition, ashwagandha has the balya prabhava. Bala can signify different kinds of strength and stamina: mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, immunological. Ashwagandha gives mental and physical strength, as well as sexual stamina.
Ashwagandha Is Contraindicated for High Pitta & Amavisha Conditions
Ashwagandha is contraindicated for most pitta body types, especially when a lot of amavisha (reactive toxins) are in the body because it has an ushna guna (warming physical effect) and ushna virya (heating potency). Ironically, high pitta people are often drawn to ashwagandha because they constantly put more and more stress on themselves and get burned out. Ashwagandha can easily make high pittas go even more into overdrive. So, it may not be the best herb for them, especially compared to herbs, foods and lifestyles that give more soma (cooling, nurturing, and stabilizing vibrational energy to the body).
This is why Vaidya Mishra formulated many different alternative delivery forms for Ashwagandha. Transdermal creams, oils, roll-ons, transmucosal drops and a spray. The easiest one to use is the spray. Just a couple of squirts and within a minute or so you experience the calm and composure that Ashwagandha can procure!
This holiday season you DON’T have to be stressed! You can organize the merriment and still celebrate the spirit! Try Vaidya Mishra’s Stress-Free Oral Spray.
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
15% STOREWIDE SALE PLUS FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING (minimum purchase required)
FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING
(orders of $201 or more)
PLUS 15% OFF
~ Purchase $251 or more ~
Happy Holidays!
The
Vagus Nerve
with Dr Lisa Raskin
Vagal toning. Cold plunges. Humming exercises. Breath-work protocols. The wellness world is obsessed with fixing the vagus nerve right now — and for good reason. More people than ever are walking around with signs of vagal dysfunction: unexplained anxiety, dizziness, chest tightness, visual disturbances, sudden fatigue, that feeling of being “electrically overwhelmed” from the inside out.
But here’s what almost no one is asking: Why now? Why are so many nervous systems suddenly struggling?
I’ve been wondering about this for months, and it finally clicked!
The vagus nerve isn’t broken. It’s responding.
This is my theory based on what I’ve observed in my own body and in my practice — it may not be true for everyone, but it’s a pattern I keep seeing.
For sensitive systems especially, the vagus–brainstem–heart pathway is ground zero for electromagnetic dysregulation. When radio-frequency fields hit this pathway, the system destabilizes. Not because you’re anxious or fragile, but because your autonomic nervous system is reacting to an electrical load it was never designed to handle.
I know this because I’ve tested it on my own body hundreds of times.
When I wear my EMF-protective hoodie in high-RF environments — crowded stores where dozens of people are carrying cellphones emitting radiofrequency — I feel completely fine. Even though my face is still exposed. Why? Because the hoodie shields the exact pathways that trigger my symptoms: the chest, neck, vagus nerve, and brainstem. These are the entry points where RF penetrates deep enough to disrupt autonomic regulation.
My face being exposed doesn’t matter. The visual disturbances that EMFs sometimes cause aren’t from my head being exposed. They’re caused by brainstem–vagal destabilization showing up through my vision. Shield the autonomic core, and the whole system settles. We’re treating symptoms while missing the cause.
The vagus exercises help — they absolutely do — but for many sensitive people, what’s actually driving this is environmental, electrical, and invisible. The vagus nerve isn’t “acting up.” It’s doing exactly what it’s designed to do: responding to threat. And when you reduce the electrical load hitting your autonomic core, the dysregulation often resolves on its own.
One thing to try: if you experience unexplained anxiety, dizziness, or chest pressure in certain environments, notice what happens when you shield your chest and neck area with EMF-protective fabric. Even a simple shielding scarf can reduce the load enough to show you something real is happening.
Regular fabric won’t work — radiofrequency goes right through it. But actual shielding material over your autonomic core can make the difference immediately visible. You will feel it.
Your nervous system isn’t broken. It might just be responding to something we’ve been trained not to see.
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
THANKSGIVING STOREWIDE SALE – plus: FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING (minimum purchase required)
ALL orders of $201 (or more) will
receive a complimentary SVA gift
Happy Holidays!
(Offer ends December 31, 2025)
Thanksgiving Day could probably count as “the best” American holiday since it allows us to make a conscious effort to be grateful!
Things we otherwise would take for granted…. Despite global troublesome times, we may find we have so much to be grateful for, when we make the conscious effort to shift our attention to gratitude. We have all heard the popular quote by Thomas Jefferson:
Jefferson’s words ring even more true now that modern science confirm what Ayurveda has taught us thousands of years ago: that making a mental effort to recognize positive elements in our lives, and be grateful for them – instead of getting stuck on what is lacking, or incomplete etc – can actually change and impact our physiology in radical ways. IT IS A FACT: the conscious effort of practicing gratitude can alter our biochemistry! Science states that a grateful mental attitude can:
Lower blood pressure;
Decrease cortisol levels;
Regulate stress and hormones;
Strengthen the immune system and increase antibody production;
Improve cognitive functions and sharpen memory;
Enhance sleep quality;
Reduce inflammation;
And so much more!
Remind yourself: “is my glass half full or half empty?” – make an effort to look for all the things you may have taken for granted on a daily basis, make a note, and remind yourself of how fortunate you truly are, and write down all that you would also like to materialize for the future… You may notice, with time, as your perspective shifts and you start to experience the glass as half full, so many of your unfulfilled desires will also materialize…. If you are having a hard time sticking with the mental shift, SVAyurveda offers us a full garden of divine herbs that help support the body’s chemistry to make and keep the grateful shift! And for that we are most most grateful for our ayurvedic guru,
Vaidya Ramakant Mishra, who brought us the ancient timeless knowledge of Shaka Vanshiya Ayurveda to help us through our daily routine and diet. He created unique pranic SVA Formulations suited for the western physiology to support our daily and seasonal detox, maintain our balance, increase our bliss, so that we can live our dharma in its fullness. To that guru, who is the supreme embodiment of the divine, we offer our gratitude and homage.
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
The guru is Brahma, the creator, who creates new knowledge and awareness in a disciple; the guru is Vishnu, the preserver, who sustains and nurtures the disciple’s growth; the guru is Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance, ego, and illusion. The guru is the Supreme Reality, the embodiment of the divine – we bow down with great respect and affection to that revered Guru.
~ Testimonials ~
from our Patrons Sharing their Experiences with
SVA Pranic Formulations
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!
~ Great ideas for Stocking Stuffers too!
MORE VIT D FOR MORE HEALTH!
DETOX & RELAAAAAX!
DAILY TONIC: DELICIOUS TOO!
MAGNESIUM: Less Stress!
EYECARE – EVERYDAY.
MORNING BREWS …
SLEEP: BETTER NATURALLY!
ORAL CARE – & DELICIOUS TOO!
ROSE: FOR BODY, MIND, AND HEART
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
THANKSGIVING STOREWIDE SALE – plus: FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING (minimum purchase required)
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! We give thanks to our ayurvedic Guru, Vaidya Ramakant Mishra, who brought us the ancient timeless knowledge of Shaka Vanshiya Ayurveda to help us through our daily routine and diet. He created unique pranic SVA Formulations suited for the western physiology to support our daily and seasonal detox, maintain our balance, increase our bliss, so that we can live our dharma in its fullness. To that guru, who is the supreme embodiment of the divine, we offer our gratitude and homage.
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
The guru is Brahma, the creator, who creates new knowledge and awareness in a disciple; the guru is Vishnu, the preserver, who sustains and nurtures the disciple’s growth; the guru is Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance, ego, and illusion. The guru is the Supreme Reality, the embodiment of the divine – we bow down with great respect and affection to that revered Guru.
~ Testimonials ~
from our Patrons Sharing their Experiences with
SVA Pranic Formulations
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!
~ Great ideas for Stocking Stuffers too!
MORE VIT D FOR MORE HEALTH!
DETOX & RELAAAAAX!
DAILY TONIC: DELICIOUS TOO!
MAGNESIUM: Less Stress!
EYECARE – EVERYDAY.
MORNING BREWS …
SLEEP: BETTER NATURALLY!
ORAL CARE – & DELICIOUS TOO!
ROSE: FOR BODY, MIND, AND HEART
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Do you feel like there simply are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all you need to do? Do you wish you could sleep less everyday so you could do more? Ayurveda teaches us that sleep is much more than a “mindless pause” meant to restore the physical body. And modern science has come to confirm this as well.
Scientists confirm that 7-9 hours of sleep per night are necessary for an adult. This is not just to restore the body, but to reset the brain! The latest scientific findings demonstrate how the brain needs sleep in order to wash itself off from toxins created during the day’s activities: sleep is necessary for daily brain detox and reset!
How does this detox happen? A specific type of brain cells – called glial cells – shrink during sleep. When they shrink, they open up the interstitial gaps between neurons to allow cerebral fluid to flush out neurotoxins in the brain through a network of plumbing pipes - the glymphatic system.
If the brain is not allowed this daily detox process through a proper continuous 8 hour cycle of sleep, toxic proteins may be formed and/or left behind. It has been found that these proteins may play a major role in chronic brain disorders such as: Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, or dementia.
What does Ayurveda have to say about all this? Was there an understanding of sleep supplying necessary downtime for brain to flush out neurotoxins out of the brain tissue?
Shodhana and Rasayana
Vaidya Mishra not only emphasized the importance of regular sleep for full physical reset, but he elaborated – in great detail – on the topic of ”shodhana” or the detox properties of sleep, as well as the ”rasayana” or rejuvenative values of sleep body and mind.
The detox and rejuvenative functions of sleep – “shodhana” and “rasayana” – have long been known in Ayurveda. The Carak Samhita Sutrasthana says that sleep or “svapn”(स्वप्न), along with a healthy diet or “ahar,” (अहर) as well as ethical balanced behavior or “Brahmacharya” (ब्रह्माचार्यः)are the 3 sub-pillars of life, or “traya upastambah (त्रया उपस्तम्बः):
The sutra goes on to state that with proper regular sleep the body gains “bala” or physical and mental stamina. In addition:
its overall immunity is enhanced;
complexion improves;
digestive and post-digestive activities are optimal;
the mind gets more balance and nourishment from the physiology ;
there is overall improvement in the assimilation and transformation of activities on the cellular as well as vibrational levels.
By nature, when the day wanes, if our body is attuned to Nature’s rhythms, we will naturally to shift gears and allow the body to slip into sleep. The sutra says:
When “manas” or the mind gets “klante,” fatigued, from activity or”karma,” enjoying the objects or “visyayebho” of the senses, then it wants to release itself (“nivartante”) of those objects by going into sleep or “svapiti.” This is the definition of sleep according to Ayurveda.
But in our modern day culture, sleep can be the most elusive thing. Even though now we may understand that it is indispensable, sometimes, no matter how tired we feel and want to sleep, we are not able to wind down, fall asleep, or stay asleep. There are different ways to correct sleep imbalances, based on external and internal factors.
Sleeplessness occurs when the brain is unable to disconnect from the activities of the senses. When the brain remains engaged in the objects of the senses – things that happened during the day – either extremely exciting or stressful; a task that was unfinished; an emotional charge that remains unprocessed; a stressful thought that won’t leave you. Your mind keeps running the episode over and over again. Due to different hetu-s or original causes, people are not able to disconnect or detach their minds from their senses, and then sleep eludes us.
As we know, in Ayurveda, there is NOT one remedy for all. Each individual and condition is unique. Just so, there is not one way to correct a sleep imbalances, because there is not one reason that may cause insomnia. In SVA, Vaidya Mishra insists on following the हेतु लिङ्ग औषादि ज्ञानम् ”hetu ling aushadi gyanam” principle: first investigate and isolate the actual cause of the sleeplessness in order to be able to correct it fully and effectively.
In this modern day and age, regardless of our dosha, we all experience sleep disorders due to current cultural bad habits. The creation of digital culture has propelled our habits into a new next level of imbalance! Here are some things we can all benefit from!
General Recommendations for ALL:
1)Turn down the lights: blue light forces our brain to reduce the production of melatonin which affects sleep quality;
2) Reduce the use of computers and cellphones, turn off the wifi in your home;: EMF is the #1 disruptor of the body’s internal clock, it also disrupts our vibrational channels or nadi-s that carry prana – prana is essential for health and for sleep;
3) Do some gentle gentle stretching or yogic exercise or meditation to ease the muscles into the rest period of the day and disconnect the mind from stress.
But sometimes, we fall asleep on time but are unable to stay asleep, we may wake up an hour later with heart palpitations; or feeling hot and sweaty; or wake up and feel energized. Vaidya Mishra made many potent tridoshic remedies for sleep. Explore and find the one that you love most. You can use more than one at a time as well. These products pacify Prana Vata, Sadhak Pitta, and Shleshak Kapha – they help ground the mind, soothe the heart, and remove blockages that may trap hot pitta and disrupt sleep. One recipe may also help all body type
As a golden rule, regardless of your dosha, for dinner, NEVER eat spicy, sour, or (too) salty foods. You want to have easy to digest light meals with less or no salt at all and soft spices – some cumin, with fennel or coriander is great. Eat over-cooked easy to digest dinners, specially in Autumn. In addition, if you have your dinner but feel a bit hungry before sleep, make a “milk-date shake.”
*Recipe for “Milk-date Shake” before sleep (boil milk with a couple cardamom pods, a stick of cinnamon, a pinch of turmeric; take off the heat, pour into a blender and add 1-2 pitted medjool dates and blend. Drink warm before bed). If you are kapha predominant constitution, add 50% milk and 50% water, or use almond milk instead of cow milk.
*Give yourself a relaxing nourishing self-massage with a Vata Dosha pacifying massage oil Vata oil with Vit D and Magnesium is an ideal blend, as the Magnesium will also help relax the muscles and calm the mind. Apply the oil, leave on for 20 minutes. Then step into a hot bath with the Soma Nidra bath pouches for a divinely relaxing experience.
*Shower with Soma Nidra Soap;
*Take a bath with Soma Nidra Sleep Pouches an hour before sleep;
“*Spray Soma Nidra Oral Spray 20 minutes before sleep. This spray works within seconds through trans-mucosal oral delivery. It is delicious too!
*Drink Soma Nidra Tea ideally 2 hours before sleep. This tridoshic tea will pacifies your mind, soothe your heart, and balance kapha for deep restorative sleep. Drink it in the evening to allow time for the body to adjust.
*Apply Soma Nidra Aroma oil blend on your wrists and behind your ear lobes, or put a couple of drops in an aroma diffuser to release the aroma in your room during your sleep.
*Apply Mastik Shamana transdermal cream on your lower spine and/or massage your feet with it nice and slow.
Wishing you Sweet Soma Sleep and Blissful dreams!
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
In Europe and North America, the use of spices is not part of our daily diet as it in the Southern America, the Middle East, or South East Asia. Here, if we really want to get fancy we may add more flavor either through dry herbs or use onion/garlic or store-bought sauces or flavoring agents!
It’s a shame because spices do so much more for us than just add flavor.
Spices have distinct irreplaceable properties that not only boost metabolism, but support the entire physiology on many levels. The most immediate benefit we can get from adding spices to our daily meals is their power to balance cravings. Since spices function like digestive enzymes, they help us metabolize the food, and thus balance the digestive metabolic fires in all the seven physical tissues. Let’s look at some of their properties.
For example: cardamom pods help digest protein. When you simmer the milk with cardamom pods the cardamom helps you digest the protein in the milk. Add a cinnamon stick, and that will help you digest the sugar in the milk. Add a pinch of saffron, and it will help you digest the fat of the milk in the fat medha dhatu or fat tissue. Fenugreek seeds help digest and break-down fats; Cumin seeds support the stomach’s acids (pita and vata dosha) and keep things moving; ginger is fabulous for re- igniting the digestive fire – pachak agni; and fennel seeds regulate the digestive fire if it’s too high or too low, it adjusts it to just the right potency!Whenwe regularly consume heavy meals that may contain some or all of the following: hard aged cheeses; red meats; nut butters; unfermented soy like tofu; prepared foods with preservatives and additives, etc, we put a great strain on our digestive system, and with time, it will malfunction. Poor digestion is the primary cause for 99% of diseases according to Ayurveda!
Here is yet another spice, which when used correctly will help with flatulence: Ajwain seeds. Ajwain seedstaste like oregano but are much more potent – are used when the body’s physical channels are clogged and digestion is sluggish.
Did you know ajwain may also be used to purify mother’s breastmilk? Breast milk may contain toxins which can create problems in the infant – acid reflux or eczema.
Ajwain is such a versatile spice that it can also be used in a detox/cleanse protocol to help dilate the urinary channels, and when used in conjunction with coriander seeds, it supports in re-directing the toxins from the deeper tissues into the kidneys and then flushing them out through the urinary tract.
What about Cinnamon? Many people are diabetic because of insulin resistance. Their bodies may still be producing insulin, but the body is unable to process and use it. Cooking with cinnamon sticks helps to increase the insulin sensitivity by 20%, which is why it is recommended in many of the Ayurvedic herbal formulas for modulating blood sugar levels.
So there it is: spices are essential! You can make your own spice blends: follow your intuition and get creative. Vaidya Mishra’s classic recipe was:
1 Part Turmeric
1 Part Fennel
1 Part Cumin
6 Parts Coriander
This is a balanced ration for daily support. You can dry toast all and blend or just blend the seeds and mix together. Add a pinch or 1/2 tsp to your food while cooking, or sauté in ghee and add on top. Not up to experimenting? Try one of our many spice blends – all perfect for daily use. A treasure-trove of flavors and delicious scents, that will elevate your culinary experiences to new unexpected beyond-Michelin heights!
Here’s to your health!
Mom’s Masala was Vaidya Mishra’s family recipe. His mother used to make this at home from scratch. We are so fortunate to have it. A complex spice blend with 20 different spices, it has layers of flavor and countless benefits! Best of all? You can cook with it OR just sprinkle it on top of your food, make a dressing with some lime, olive oil and chopped cilantro, or just sprinkle it on fresh cut fruits. Your imagination is the limit! Enjoy!
Did you know that even children need to have spices added to their meals for optimal digestion and absorption? Here are 5 different spice blends – all delicious – with specific properties. They are so good, not only do kids love them, but grown-up kids use them as well! Try them and find out…
Iodine
Important Fact You Need to Know
Dr Marianne Teitelbaum
I wrote a book called Healing the Thyroid With Ayurveda, and in that book I discuss how to effectively treat the thyroid gland and heal it, rather than giving the thyroid hormone which primarily shuts down the thyroid gland since it’s no longer called upon to make its hormones.
As a result I treat people from all around the world for their thyroid conditions, such as hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, Hashimoto’s and Graves Disease.
And what I have found is that people don’t understand enough about iodine, which is important because the thyroid gland is the only gland that uses iodine to make its hormones. And through the years I have seen both sides of the spectrum: people are either deficient in it or they are taking supplements and are overdosing on it, which can actually suppress the thyroid gland. This is one of those cases where many people think that if a little is good for you, then more must be better. It is definitely not the case when it comes to iodine.
So let’s start at the beginning.
The main role of iodine is in the production of thyroid hormones. T3 contains 3 iodine atoms and T4 contains 4 iodine atoms. These are the two primary hormones made by the thyroid gland, and they control your metabolism — you can either gain too much weight with a sluggish metabolism as in the case of hypothyroidism, or lose too much weight if metabolism is too high, which can happen in hyperthyroidism.
It can also affect growth, which is important to know because if your child isn’t growing properly, this might be one avenue you want to consider and see why the thyroid gland is being depressed. Don’t be tempted to rush in and give the hormones. It’s more important to see why it’s not able to function, fix that and then bring its function back. There are numerous causes, such as if there is fluoride in the water, or exposure to mercury, both of which can depress the thyroid gland. There are some other reasons as well.
The thyroid gland uses 70-80% of the body’s iodine. Which means that iodine is used in other parts of the body. When I was growing up if we had a wound our mothers would put a tincture of iodine on it. Why? Because iodine kills infection upon contact. So that gives us a clue as to other parts of the body that would use iodine.
This is very interesting: did you know that your salivary glands concentrate small amounts of iodine? They do! Because every breath we take viruses and bacteria are coming into all these orifices and the iodine will stop them in their tracks.
Therefore you will find iodine in locations where pathogens from the outside world are entering the body and iodine will show up there to do its work in protecting us from them. Areas such as the mouth (as just mentioned in the salivary glands).
You’ll also find iodine in the stomach lining because, again, food coming in from the outside world is loaded with bacteria and viruses, no matter how much we try to clean them. Even our immune system cells which kill pathogens, such as our neutrophils use iodine to do their work in protecting us.
So how much iodine do we need? Adults need 150 micrograms a day, pregnant women need 220 micrograms a day, breastfeeding mothers need 290 micrograms a day, and children need 90 micrograms a day.
Since it is always best to get nutrients in food, in their natural form, for best utilization by the body, let’s see which foods contain iodine so we can make sure we are getting enough in the diet.
If you are not vegetarian then fish provides anywhere from 100-150 micrograms of iodine per serving. Wild-caught fish usually have more iodine than farmed fish.
If you are vegetarian it is recommended that you consume dairy products. Just 1 cup of cow’s milk provides 90 micrograms of iodine, 1 cup of yogurt provides 50-75 micrograms, and 1/2 cup of cottage cheese provides 25-40 micrograms.
For vegans who do not consume dairy, seaweed can be extremely rich in iodine, much more than in fish but you must be very careful because kelp and other brown seaweeds contain iodine far above the safe upper limit, especially if you consume it every day or take a supplement of seaweed every day.
For example, kelp (or kombu) contains 1400-2500 micrograms per serving! This is definitely way too much so be careful if you consume these — maybe take them only once or twice a week at the most.
Wakame contains 150-300 micrograms per serving, and nori used in sushi — 1 sheet, contains 30-60 micrograms, so it is much safer. Dulse contains 150-250 micrograms.
Consistently consuming too much iodine may lead to thyroid dysfunction. You can actually suppress your thyroid gland with too much iodine. In fact, too much iodine can lead to hypothyroid or an underactive thyroid, hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid is overactive or a goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid gland. This is important to know because when most people think about a goiter or any thyroid condition, they automatically think of low iodine as the underlying cause.
High iodine levels can trigger a temporary shutdown of thyroid hormone production, but if exposure is prolonged it may lead to permanent thyroid suppression in some people.
High iodine intake is linked to increased risk of autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism. In my practice I see many people with autoimmune thyroid diseases, such as Hashimoto’s and Grave’s Disease, take too much iodine which made their condition worse — and it can even trigger these two diseases to develop in the first place.
Natural food sources, as opposed to the synthetic iodine supplements are preferred because they provide other supportive nutrients like selenium, tyrosine and protein, all of which help thyroid function.
Except for eating too much kelp, in general, it’s much easier to overdose on iodine supplements than from food, even if the supplement is marketed as natural. Keep in mind that we roughly need about 200 micrograms a day of iodine, but the supplements can be hundreds or even thousands of micrograms per pill, especially in the case of kelp pills and Lugol’s iodine.
For example, it’s not unusual for one kelp pill to contain 2,000 micrograms of iodine!
Many of our patients reported that their thyroid conditions worsened with the use of Lugol’s iodine. Lugol’s iodine is a solution of elemental iodine and potassium iodide in water. It’s named after the French physician Jean Guillame Auguste Lugol, who developed it in 1829. The solution is used in both medical and laboratory settings. I have seen many thyroid cases worsen once the patient started to take this as a supplement. Here is why:
There are varying strengths of Lugol’s iodine, all of which are extremely high. A 2% solution of Lugol’s iodine found in only one drop of the extract contains 2.5 MILLIGRAMS (a thousand micrograms is in one milligram), 5% Lugol’s contains 6.25 milligrams per drop, 7% Lugol’s contains 8.75 milligrams per drop, and 10% Lugol’s contains an extremely concentrated amount of iodine with 12.5 milligrams per drop.
This means that one drop of 5% Lugol’s delivers 6.25 mg or 6,250 micrograms which is 5x over the safe daily upper limit of 1100 micrograms per day!!!
Now that you have this information, I hope you will be very careful when it comes to your daily intake of iodine. You can see that food is your best bet, as it gives the amounts your body needs. Kelp or kombu are the only sources of food you need to be careful with.
Supplementation of iodine needs to be monitored carefully. Make sure you know how much is in your supplement and don’t exceed what the body needs. In this case, getting more iodine is not a good thing. I can’t tell you how many of my thyroid patients worsened their condition by taking iodine supplements without understanding these important facts.
I hope this information helps you as you seek to naturally balance out your thyroid gland.
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Are you ready to discover one of Mother Nature’s most potent most divine plants? You might say: well, there are so very many divine plants with amazing therapeutic benefits… True! But wait till you re-discover Holy Basil, aka: Tulsi, through Vaidya Mishra’s Shaka Vanshiya Ayurveda perspective…
In this podcast episode, Vaidya Mishra expounds the total properties of the Tulsi plant, and narrates the beautiful stories that go along with its manifestation. This chapter is from his Dravyaguna Course. Stay tuned to find out more about the upcoming digital release of this course and how you can sign up.
The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word tulsi (pronounced tulasi) is “beyond compare.” More than any other plant in Vedic culture, the Tulsi plant is known for her divinity. Tulsi is sometimes called “surasa” (liked by the gods) and “devadundubhi” (that which carries a divine vibration).
The legend goes that Tulsi was once an extremely beautiful yet very difficult young woman who would not accept any man as husband unless he was 100% perfect! The story goes that her resolve to marry only he who would prove to be divine in all his attributes brought her to God.
The Bhagavad-Gita speaks of many paths to God, amongst which is also the path of renunciation (sannyasa). All paths lead to ultimate truth. It is said that in her quest for the most divine partner, Tulsi chose the path of renunciation (“neti neti” – not this, not this).
Her super-high standards of perfection made it impossible for her to find the right match on the earthly plane and her father was distressed, for he knew that only in the Aditattwa, the original pure field of Silent Being – Purusha Vishnu – would there be a man with this degree of perfection. Tulsi engaged in sacrificial acts – tapas – and worshipped Vishnu with such purity of heart and devotion that even though he was not available for marriage, he appeared to her and made her a promise. He assured her that his divine influence would always accompany her, and no one would be able to contact him without first remembering her… Tulsi was thus reborn as the tulsi plant that carries innumerable healing divine properties. To this day, every household who seeks the blessings of God, has and maintains a Tulsi plant at the entrance.
Let’s explore the countless balancing and healing properties of this sacred plant.
Tulsi Is Good For
The Heart AND The Mind
Did you know that Tulsi supports the emotional, physical and vibrational heart? Our connection to the “light of our soul” lies in our hearts. Tulsi is so connected to the universal soul, or God, that her presence in our homes, our lives, ushers in that divine universal vibration, which directly strengthens the emotional and physical heart. This is why Bhava Prakash gives tulsi the classification of “hridya” – that which gives a long, healthy life to the heart by delivering prana to the heart.
When the heart’s vibration is pranically elevated, the mind gets anchored and recharged, and it becomes easy for the mind to stay connected to the light of the soul. Because of this, the senses are not able to easily overtake the mind, since the mind becomes anchored in the pure field of Being vibrating in the heart. This is one of the reasons why tulsi is an important part of Vaidya Mishra’s Samadhi Set.
Countless SVA followers use the Samadhi set before yoga, prayers, or meditation. It helps them settles down by unclogging the vibrational and physical channels, supplying more prana, and the divine healing herbs, so the experience of meditation or yoga or more complete.
Tulsi opens the heart to the field of Being. The light of Being illuminates the mind and gives it strength. The strong, peaceful mind is able to fully enjoy its yogic state of sama-dhi, balanced intellect radiating bliss.
But the Tulsi plant also carries very powerful properties for the physical body and health.
“Shakti” – Spiritual Strength
The physical properties of any herb affect the physical elements of the body, while its subtle vibrational qualities work in the vibrational gaps of the physiology, where all transformations in the body take place. The gaps or sandhis carry burners or centers of transformative energy. These gaps is where the intelligence of the body is located. Whenever you ingest or transdermally absorb an herb that is rich in divine intelligence, like tulsi, you naturally activate the gaps (or burners) in the physiology. The vibration of the tulsi plant is purifying for these gaps and makes them more intelligent.
The word is Sanskrit for this property is dipani. Any herb that is dipani increases the flame in one or more of the gaps of the physiology. This can be done by cleaning the gap (removing blocks to the flow of prana in the gap), or by directly supplying more agni. Tulsi does both.
Tulsi has ushna virya (heating thermogenic property) which delivers agni-rich prana to the burners, especially the jataragni (burner of the stomach) to ignite the digestive flame. And tulsi also has a divine vibration which travels directly to all the gaps throughout the physiology.
This divine quality helps it to remove any hidden vibrational blocks and to clean the gaps in the physiology. This makes the agnis (flames) stronger throughout the body, including the agnis in the mind and the liver.
When the body’s subtle transformational powers are reset by tulsi, the body is able to receive and connect with universal energy optimally. Tulsi is thus an ideal herb for restoring and maintaining spiritual shakti in times of distress. It purifies and elevates us through its physical and vibrational cleansing properties.
Bactericidal Effect of Tulsi
Bhava Prakash uses two words, “apetarakshasi” and “bhutaghni,” to give emphasis to the bactericidal property of tulsi.
The word, bhutaghni, in Sanskrit means “bactericidal.” Bhuta, in Ayurveda, denotes microscopic bacteria or living entities that are invisible to the naked eye, but the terms also refers to spirits – which can be a hidden nuisance as well! The word, “apetarakshasi,” also means “bactericidal.” Rakshasa is another name for disease spreading micro-organisms in Ayurveda.
The divine chemical make-up of the tulsi plant creates an unwelcome environment for such infectious organisms. The bitter taste (tikta rasa) of tulsi is also an important factor in killing bacteria (or at least making it very difficult for them to thrive). For this reason, tulsi has been used to boost the immune system and fight colds for centuries. The combination of being bactericidal, increasing agni (digestion) and connecting the mind to the light of the soul makes this an ideal herb for strengthening immunity. In terms of doshas, it pacifies high kapha and vata. It can be pitta aggravating, so it should be used with caution by high pitta individuals.
Traditionally, Tulsi is used in dry or fresh form. Either as full leaves or powder. Given its heating and drying properties, and how they may impact the pitta dosha, Vaidya Mishra introduced transdermal and transmucosal alternative delivery forms of Tulsi. Now you can get ALL the balancing and healing properties of this divine plant, without the risking imbalancing the doshas.
9 uses of Tribindu
1) Use it to help support your sinus pathways and discourage potential bacterial growth in your oral cavity - apply on a scarf, wrap around your mouth and nose and gently inhale
2) Spray it in your room – on your couch, pillows, carpet, desk, or just in the air, to clean and refresh the air. You can also use an essential oil diffuser and squirt 2-3 times into the water and then plug it in for sustained delivery.
3) Apply a small amount on your feet and massage in: when you have fatigue, poor circulation, cold hands and feet, the Tribindu will warm you up right away, enhancing circulation and thermogenesis.
4) Apply on sore achy muscles before and also after exercise to mobilize and evacuate toxic build-up and ease the flow of toxins to support enhanced mobility
5) Support your overall circulation and thermo-genesis, specially in cold weather, when you have to go out – apply on hands and feet before putting on gloves and socks.
6) Use it to ease away tension and stress from your neck and shoulder areas – spray 2-3 times and massage in. You can also use it on your lower or upper back areas
7) Use it to ward off insect bites or to soothe itchiness from bites: spray on insect bites or mosquito bites and massage – do not spray on an open wound or bite.
8) Spray on joints – knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, finger joints, etc, morning and evening, to help maintain healthy joints free from toxic accumulation, and enhance mobility. Spray and gently massage.
9) You can also use the Tribindu to help ward off infections, for example, apply on your nails and fingers after clipping them.
Whichever way you use it, it is a great and safe household remedy to keep close by – rain or shine within or without!
CAUTION: According to BhavaPrakash, tulsi is ushna (heating),
katuka (pungent) and dipani (flame enhancing). For anyone who has a high pitta constitution this can cause burning or other pitta related problems, so use in moderation. In fact, Bhava Prakash warns that tulsi is dahapittakrit – increasing pitta and aggravates burning in the body.
Tulsi should be used in moderation, according to the specific state of balance of the person in order to avoid this problem.
Also, because it is bitter,tulsi should not be used during pregnancy as it may cause miscarriage, unless it is used under the doctor’s supervision. Bitter herbs stimulate the liver to detoxify itself and can transfer too much amavisha (reactive toxins) into the blood, causing a miscarriage.
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
