Recent & Past SVA Newsletters

This page holds all of our most recent and past SVA Newsletters below. Simply click on the newsletter title to read that issue.

SVA SANGHAM: Find Your Tribe! – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter July 1, 2021 – #25, Vol 11

July 1, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Our fulfillment center will be closed on Monday July 5 in observance of the holiday.
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Questions? 1.888.3Chandi

… upcoming courses …
EMF: What CAN we do about it?
In a world where we can no longer exist without technology, how can we maintain balance and thrive despite the known side-effects of exposure to EMF? Find out Vaidya Mishra’s SVA Teachings in this much requested course on EMF – details coming very soon….

Did you miss our Spring 2021 Detox?
No worries, you can catch the Autumn Detox.
More details coming very soon.

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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

SVA: OnGo! plus: Upcoming SVA Courses – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter June 24, 2021 – #24, Vol 11

June 25, 2021 by Leave a Comment
FREE Wristlet filled with Samplers – total value of $70 (with minimum purchase of $251)
Stepping back into our active lifestyles after the unexpected hiatus may seem stressful even though so very welcome! Keep things flowing and blissful by maintaining a good daily routine – diet, sleep, exercise. And pack in some SVA essentials on the go! Here is a gift of 100% cotton pouch filled with favorite SVA samplers – best-selling items from Vaidya Mishra’s ayurvedic treasure-trove (FREE with minimum purchase of $251 or more – otherwise actual value of $70). Scroll down to find out more.
Daily stress can be tough on the srotas and nadis resulting in body aches, stiffness, or overall dosha imbalance. In addition, stiff or aggravated channels can cause undue stress and further imbalances. Apply Prana Flow on cervical area, shoulders, lower back, pulse, and feet/legs and breeeeeeaaaathe! Or apply on tight muscles and massage in for an immediate relaxation experience.
Caution: Prana Flow is slightly thermogenic, if this is your first time using, test it on your wrist first before applying on cervical and lower back areas. It’s ok to use on the feet and legs right away.
Experience the health benefits of essential oils and calm your mind within seconds – WITHOUT causing discomfort to those around you. Just unscrew and breath in all the goodness of floral and herb essences and revitalize within moments.
Made with 0% alcohol yet full of the anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties of wholesome ayurvedic herbs and botanicals. Use it on the go in public places to shield and moisturize your hands.
Don’t sweat it! With Vaidya Mishra’s Transdermal Vit D products, we’ve got you covered – inside’n out! Specially with the Vit D Deodorant (roll-on or paste) for him or for her. An essential on the road, it will keep you nourished with non-cruelty based sustainably derived Vit D from sheep lanolin – safe and effective for vegetarians too. Plus it smells wonderful and works like a charm!
Made with fresh ground turmeric in a base of organic shea butter. Turmeric is traditionally used to support immunity and enhance the body’s glow transdermally. Discover goodness in a bar!
We all need a pick-me-up during the day. Experience the bliss of the heart and keep going with this exquisite floral blend: keep your heart lotus open and minimize mental stress. Apply on your wrists and behind ear lobes for a full experience.
When you are busy sometimes you have to eat out and yet don’t want to miss out on your favorite spices and anti-oxidants? Now you can carry Mom’s Masala and sprinkle it on your food wherever you go and never miss out on flavor!
Nourishing yourself becomes tricky on a full schedule, and yet you need good pranic food to maintain productivity! Try Vaidya Mishra’s protein powder to experience the bounty of Mother Nature: make an instant savory or sweet shake and keep going going going….
Magnesium is an essential element that aids not only in maintaining proper flow in your muscle tissue, attenuating tightness and cramping, but it is a great stress buster, as well as sleep-enhancer. Roll it on your calf muscles or apply on your pulse through the day for an immediate experience.
Discover organic flavors in an edible base. Brushing your teeth was never so much fun or so delicious! But also FREE from toxins and chemicals and full of ayurvedic herbs to support oral health and gums.
… upcoming courses …
EMF: What CAN we do about it?
In a world where we can no longer exist without technology, how can we maintain balance and thrive despite the known side-effects of exposure to EMF? Find out Vaidya Mishra’s SVA Teachings in this much requested course on EMF – details coming very soon….
Did you miss our Spring 2021 Detox?
No worries, you can catch the Autumn Detox.
More details coming very soon.
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.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?
Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!
 
Filed Under: Newsletters

Stay Cool: SVA Drinks & Q&A; plus: Upcoming SVA Courses – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter June 17, 2021 – #23, Vol 11

June 18, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Which Taste(s) Pacify Pitta?
“Dear Vaidya Mishra – I read online that for pitta people, particularly in the summer time, in order to keep things cool, bitter things are good. So I went online and ordered a bitter ghee preparation called “pancha tikta ghritam” and I started using it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning with some warm water as per the recommendation. I immediately developed nausea and felt like I had a hangover. It felt like instead of pacifying my pitta, it aggravated it? Can you please address this? If ayurvedic texts and experts say that bitter is good for pitta then why did it not help me?
Also, how should I take care of my pitta dosha in the summer? I read your article on cooling pitta in the summer and it gave a different approach. You were recommending sweet things like rose petal preserve. Is the sweet taste enough for pacifying pitta in the summertime? Can you please comment on this?
Thank you,
Christina P.”
Vaidya Mishra answers:
In Ayurveda we acknowledge six total possible tastes: madhur or sweet; amla or sour; lavana – salty; kattu – pungent; tikt or bitter; and kashaya or astringent. These tastes are not only for flavor. They work in close relation to the activities of our body and mind to pacify them. In addition, did you know that carry an important hierarchical relationship amongst themselves?
Verse #171 from Bhava Mishra’s Bhavaprakash says:
As the verse explains, these tastes are hierarchical:madhuramlalavan pacify vata dosha, and last three (kattutiktkashay) pacify kapha. In addition, “kashaya” astringent, “tikt” or bitter, and “madhur” or the sweet tastes pacify pitta. So, in theory, as you found out online, to say that the bitter taste is pacifying for pitta is correct. Based on the ayurvedic ancient texts, the 3 tastes: astringent, bitter, and sweet, do pacify pitta. However, experiental knowledge needs to be applied. In practical situations, many times, textbook knowledge is not enough. Your experience is a case in point. 
In the process of pacifying your pitta dosha, you inadvertently aggravated your vata dosha. To find out what really happened, I would like to highlight two major aspects by referring to the same text, the same shastra-s.
Based on my experience as an ayurvedic expert practicing in the West for the past almost 20 years, in 90% of situations where pitta was aggravated, it was a case of also high agni, or digestive and metabolic fire element in the body, particularly in the digestive system.
When kledak kapha – the balancing kapha subdosha in the stomach that keeps things moist and lubricated – goes low in the stomach, then saman vata – which also resides in the stomach area – can get aggravated.
When Samana Vata is aggravated, it pushes udana vata – that resides in the chest – more forcefully upwards, and then one experiences nausea. In such scenarios, in most cases, wherever pitta is aggravated, vata also gets aggravated. 
Thats why there are not one or two BUT three options in terms of rasa, or taste, for pacifying pitta. Those three tastes as indicated in the shastra-s are: astringent, bitter and sweet. Practically speaking, you have to choose among those three, based on the specific condition or situation.

Verse #171 says that the first three rasa-s or tastes: madhur (sweet), amla (sour) and lavan (salty) pacify vata dosha. So madhur or sweet rasa pacifies both vata and pitta, and that’s why I personally use madhur rasa or the sweet taste to pacify pitta in the summer time. With rose – and intelligent rather than dumb or dead sweets loaded with preservatives and synthetic chemicals such as processed white sugar – and sweet juicy seasonal fruits like pears, blueberries and blackberries, as well as a little amla or sour rasa like orange, or lime, one can work wonders for pitta and vata. Of course, the sour taste has to be in moderation, specially in the summer time, because it contains more agni, and can thus aggravate pitta as well. It has to be in balance in relation to the sweet taste.
Another point to consider comes up in verse number #190 that says:
The bitter rasa, or bitter taste, can aggravate vata. That’s why, when you consumed that bitter ghee to pacify your pitta dosha, it aggravated your samana vata and udana vata, resulting in nausea. So you see, theory or just textbook knowledge are not enough. In practical daily applications of the knowledge, we need to have acquired skills and have guidance to know how to use that knowledge for optimal results. Even though the texts prescribe the bitter taste for pacifying pitta, if we follow the text without considering actual conditions, we will end up aggravating pitta further. I learnt such practical applications of the ayurvedic shastra-s while interning with my father in our family practice in India. I am always happy to share what I learnt during those years as well as in my life experience as an ayurvedic healer, since the opportunity to intern with ayurvedic experts is much more hard to come by in the western cultural context. I thank you for your question as it has given me the opportunity to clarify a crucial point for all – namaste!”
~ Vaidya Mishra (2015)
Soothe Your Heart & Rehydrate with
Rose Water
Add 1/4 to ½ tsp Rose Preserve to 8-10 oz water. Stir. Enjoy!

Hot Inside-out? How About A Sip of Cool Goodness?
Did you know that it’s not only external temperatures that heat us up but our hearts and minds also get cooked up by emotional and mental stress? Ayurveda helps not just with the gross physical body, but supports our entire physiology from the inside-out. Here is an all-time best-seller from Vaidya Mishra that has had people from all over the world acknowledging his gifts at formulations: a tea to help us cool down and balance all subdoshas of pitta that encompass the physical as well as emotional and mental aspects. If you’re feeling not only hot and dehydrated due to extreme temperatures, but are also impatient, irritated, sad and blue for no apparent reason then try Vaidya’s Pitta Tea. It cools off the heat of pitta in all aspects of the body, opens the channels of pachaka pitta (stomach), ranjaka pitta (liver), sadhak pitta (heart), alochak Pitta (eyes), and bhrajaka pitta (skin ) to release blocked heat and cool the pathways. It also cleans the “burners” of the dehagni (cellular metabolism) even as it keeps agni in check not causing it to go too high or too low. Make a cup or a pot of this tea and cool it off at room temperature (or drink warm) and sip throughout the day – you’ll see why people love it! It will hydrate you, pacify your emotions, and keep your stress levels in check too. Enjoy!
… upcoming courses …
EMF: What CAN we do about it?
In a world where we can no longer exist without technology, how can we maintain balance and thrive despite the known side-effects of exposure to EMF? Find out Vaidya Mishra’s SVA Teachings in this much requested course on EMF – details coming very soon….

Did you miss our Spring 2021 Detox?
No worries, you can catch the Autumn Detox.
More details coming very soon.

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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Probiotic to Boot with Garcinia – plus Recipe! And: Upcoming SVA Courses – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter June 10, 2021 – #22, Vol 11

June 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment

more
Perfection in a Fruit…
Are you ready? It’s not what you think – but much much more! Hailed as the “holy grail of weight loss,” it penetrated the american market in the form of an extracted powder in capsule form. But of course that gives zero credit to this amazing gift of Mother Nature – you not only miss out on its wonderful tangy taste but so many other properties that can only come when you consume the whole fruit as an edible cooked item, not in capsule or tablet form.
Garcinia cambogia is a small, sweet, exotic fruit native to South India and Southeast Asia that has garnered a lot of attention of late as a popular natural weight loss aid. But it has long been used in cooking, chutneys or curries in Asia. In the late 1960s, scientists identified a substance in the rind of the fruit called hydroxycitric acid, or HCA. They found that Hydrocytric acid or HCA, hinders the work of citrate lyase in the body. Citrate lyase is the enzyme responsible for changing carbohydrates into fatty acids. By halting the carbohydrate conversion process, HCA blocks fat and produces weight loss. But HCA has also been found to be a serotonin booster – this brain chemical that regulates mood, appetite and sleep. Elevated levels tend to curb hunger and eliminate food cravings. By lifting depression, serotonin reduces the emotional binge eating that leads to excess weight. So from the side of modern science, things are looking great. But what does Ayurveda say about this fruit? 
Ayurveda reminds us that for total health we need to consume food ingredients that balance all the dosha-s or tissues, “samadoshaha,” and enhance metabolism overall in the body in a balanced way, in Sanskrit “samagnischa.” And guess what? The Garcinia fruit carries these 2 highly desirable properties, in addition to many more. It is because of these that it helps clean the fat tissue and can result in weight loss. It is because it is good for overall total metabolism and a toxin-free body that it can help individuals who are trying to detox their fat tissue. And there is an added bonus here as well, because when Garcinia supports the fat tissue, it is also supporting the bone tissue since good fat is food for the bone tissue. More specifically, this is what we find in the ayurvedic texts:
Garcinia indica also known as Garcinia cambogia – “vrikshamla” in Sanskrit – is mentioned in the ayurvedic “nighantu”-s (or glossaries) as a vata and kapha dosha pacifying dravya or food ingredient. It is known to enhance absorption due to its thermogenic potency; to sharpen the taste buds, clearing away ama or toxic build-up in the oral cavity; and to make the body lighter because it carries the following 3 rasa-s or tastes: amla (sour), katu (pungent) and kashai (astringent). These 3 rasa-s enhance metabolism in general. More specifically, the amla rasa or sour taste also enhances and supports protein metabolism because it enhances agni in the mamsa dhatu or muscle tissue. In addition, the 3 rasa-s together help clear and unclog the srota-s or physical channels too.
Garcinia’s first property is “amla” or sour, and we know that the sour taste is “agneya” or thermogenic. Due to this property, it pacifies kapha in all the 7 “dhatu”-s or tissues. But it also pacifies thirst because it pacifies vata in the stomach, samana vata, as well as in the chest or udana vata. In general, it is a wonderful fruit that balances the entire stomach and all the dosha-s in the stomach, enhancing coordination amongst them all: samana vata, pachak pitta, and kledak kapha – the 3 principles which support digestion: a) movement of space and air in the stomach; b) enzymatic levels; c) lubrication levels. When the stomach dosha-s are balanced, so many aspects of overall health also follow suit. But wait there is more – for real….

more flavor for more balance
Yet another great attribute of this fruit is that it helps produce ama-free rasa dhatu, or the very first dhatu or tissue that gets formed after we eat. In general, many health imbalances arise from JUST THIS: that an individual makes ama or toxins from the food they ingest. Rasa dhatu is the foundation for ALL the dhatus, and if it is free of toxins and balanced, all the other tissues that get built on this foundational dhatu or tissue will also be more balanced. In this sense, Garcinia or “vrikshamla” is a very balanced and balancing fruit with unique properties that optimize the healing processes in the body. So you understand that incorporating some Garcinia into your daily diet has zero side-effects and countless health benefits. “How?” – you say?
Try One of Vaidya Mishra’s delicious spice blends for Vata, Pitta, or Kapha. Or try our best-selling Garcinia tea. If you are feeling a little more bold, then go for the chutney for a full bold flavor. 1/4 tsp with your meal, regardless of what you are eating. It’s tangy, fruity, salty, with a full bold flavor. Still not convinced to give Garcinia a try? Then let’s talk about Thakra with Garcinia!
Next Level Thakra
with
Garcinia Chutney
The benefits of friendly bacteria or probiotics have been recognized and lauded in Ayurveda for thousands of years. In the SVA lineage, we refer to them as yogini-s. They are active living organisms that help conjugate nutrients in our gut to support metabolism and absorption. Here is a verse from Bhav Mishra’s Bhav Prakash that discusses the properties of thakra or buttermilk: 
It’s grahi: so it enhances absorption. That is: it enhances the absorption of minerals and nutrients. It has two main rasa-s or tastes: kashay (astringent) and amla (sour), and its vipak or post-digestive effect is madhur. These properties create lightness in the body, particularly since its potency is warm and it enhances the digestive and metabolic fires. Thakra or fresh buttermilk also increases the reproductive fluids; it enhances the pranic flow in the cellular system; and it pacifies cellular vata. When people have chronic mal-absorption of any kind, it’s the best healthy addition to the diet, because of the unique combination of properties, nurturing yet creating lightness in the body.
Garcinia Thakra
~ Recipe ~

Vaidya Mishra recommended making fresh buttermilk by combining 20% fresh yogurt with 80% water (room temperature). Blend for 5 minutes in the blender, remove the foam top. Add 1/4 tsp of Garcinia Chutney for 16oz of buttermilk and blend for another 1-2 minutes. You can also add 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves.
Make sure to drink only with lunch – NOT DINNER. Best is to have a sip and then a bite. The combination of this thakra and Garcinia as a chutney is the best way to balance weight – not just to lose weight, but to maintain a balanced overall weight. But best of all: you won’t believe how good it tastes!
Here’s to more balance and bliss in your life – always!

… upcoming courses …
EMF: What CAN we do about it?
In a world where we can no longer exist without technology, how can we maintain balance and thrive despite the known side-effects of exposure to EMF? Find out Vaidya Mishra’s SVA Teachings in this much requested course on EMF – details coming very soon….

Did you miss our Spring 2021 Detox?
No worries, you can catch the Autumn Detox.
More details coming very soon.

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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Incense in Ayurveda? End of Detox Season – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter June 3, 2021 – #21, Vol 11

June 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment

The Ayurvedic Tradition of Dhoop
or
Incense Burning
The oldest references to incense in the Vedas are found in the Atharvaveda and Rigveda. Incense burning was used to create soothing aromas for the environment; or as a medicinal tool – fumigating for bacterial cleansing; or to purify and cleanse the environment for spiritual purposes; alternately, incense burning has also been used as ritual tool during sacred rites, or meditation. In addition, did you know that there is a whole chapter in the Charak Samhita, the sourcebook of Ayurveda, fully dedicated to the therapeutic effects of herbal remedies delivered in smoke form?
Ayurveda uses many different kinds of herbs, flower, barks, etc. to make incense. Depending of what materials are used and what their prabhavas, ultimate subtle effects on the mind/body complex, an incense can have any number of effects on us. For example, incense can be used to cool the physiology in the Summertime, or warm it in the Wintertime. It can ground and stabilize our mind when we are stressed out; or it can energize and stimulate our mind when our thinking becomes slow and lethargic. Incense has also been known to be used spiritual growth – strengthening our connection and coordination with our sattva – our inner divine core that reverberates as light. 
Scents that Heal
Modern science does not yet fully understand or appreciate the subtle healing powers of aromatherapy. In contrast, in Ayurveda, we speak of Sugandha Vigyan – the understanding of how scents or aromas (whether pure or chemically adulterated) enter into and effect the mind and body. Obviously, when a scent is chemically ladden, it will cause toxicity and damage. When it is natural, pure, and unadulterated, it will deliver balancing properties. 
Through the ayurvedic science of Sugandha Vigyan, we learn that the scents of flowers and other plants contain “sookshma bhag” or micro-molecules, extremely small, sharp and fast-moving particles, that instantly penetrate into and travel in our physiology, reaching the brain center to procure immediate impact. When you inhale a pleasant aroma, it communicates with your limbic system instantaneously affecting molecular chemical changes in your brain chemistry and firing up neuronal pathways that generate waves of well-being (or repulsion – depending on what you are smelling!). From the brain, the aromatic molecules enter the blood stream and are delivered to the whole body. 
Only natural aromas can deliver healthy-benefiting or balancing effects. But that’s only part of the story. To deliver a therapeutic action, an incense must retain the subtle prabhava, or subtle vibrational effect, of the herbs. The scent is one thing. The balancing therapeutic impact is another.
Vaidya Mishra’s SV Ayurvedic Incense Sticks carry and maintain the prabhavas of their ingredients because they are made with the same care and pranic preservation methods used in all of his SVA Formulations. He made seven types of Ayurvedic incense. They are meant to purify the environment you burn them in, transforming your mind-set within seconds. He used specific flower and plant essence aromatic synergies. 
You can choose from different plants and flowers, for different activities. We have several choices of incense for meditation, cleaning your living or office space, and opening your mind and heart to the divine without creating toxins for your body. 
SVA Incense Sticks
7 Herbal and Flower Blends to Choose from
Organic Rose Incense
When we feel emotionally down and out, unable to handle life’s constant challenges, we need something that can help us restore our emotional strenght. Smell your way to emotional balance with the SVA Organic Rose incense to instantly soothe your sadhaka pitta – the ayurvedic governing factor of the emotional heart. Aggravation of sadhak pitta is common. When sadhak pitta is aggravated, our outlook on life will remain grim and grey despite our best mental efforts. We will just not feel up to anything. Sadhak pitta aggravation takes the spark out of life. Pacification of sadhak pitta with rose aromatherapy can work wonders. The subtle aromatic principles of real rose in this incense opens the heart lotus and connects the soul’s light (sattva) to the mind – even as it soothes/cools the heart and mind in stressful situations. But, rose incense is not just for when you feel down. Regular use balances your sadhaka pitta and gives greater emotional stamina to handle emotional challenges. Rose carries a “somnasya jana” or bliss-enhancing property. Because we face emotional challenges every day, this incense is perfect to use regularly, specially during peack activity times of the day when stress escalades. Use it to create greater bliss in yourself and the environment of any room in your home, or office. You will find it can be especially beneficial if you are a vata or pitta body type, or a mixture of both, in your overall constitution. 
Blissful Jasmine Incense
Vaidya used only the purest Sambac Jasmine in this incense stick. Jasmine is another wondrous flower with a long list of health benefits. It cleans the water and air elements of the environment. Wherever it is used, real jasmine yields a sandhaniya (unifying) effect whether physically on your skin or mentally: on the mind and brain activity. This incense supports mental bliss by reestablishing the connection and coordination between “dhi, dhriti,” and “smriti:” the power to gather, store and recollect information. Charak says that lack of coordination between dhi, dhriti, and smriti leads to pragyaparadh, unsettling all 3 doshas of the body, inducing specific dis-eases. Daily use of this incense keeps pragyaparadh at bay. Daily use relieves stress, brings more mental energy, and returns us to our natural state, or “svabhava.”  
Cooling Vetiver Incense
Vetiver is famous for its deep cooling effects, but has been somewhat overshadowed by the popularity of Sandalwood. It is in fact very widely used in the (ayur)vedic tradition for so many conditions and in varied contexts, either ritual or other. In Vaidya’s ancestral village in North West India, there is a long tradition of using Vetiver to refresh and cool things off on hot summer days. In the Summertime, increased agni in the environment dilates our circulatory channels, increasing heat in the blood too. Vetiver cools the blood and with regular use can even cool the muscle and fat tissues. As compared to sandalwood, vetiver is just as divine, but gives us a longer lasting cooling effect. When inhaled, the highly aromatic molecules of Vetiver pacify the heat present in the environment and the body. Overall, Vetiver Incense opens the brain channels and instantly brings a cool, calming, refreshing effect, especially reducing emotional anger and irritability. 
Alertness Rosemary Devi Incense
Rosemary is a unique flowering plant, that carries a mildly pungent sweet scent. It is a powerful stress-relieving plant. Its slight pungency unblocks the physical channels of the brain, connecting heart and mind. In Ayurveda, Rosemary is also known for improving blood circulation, supporting digestion, enhancing memory, and sharpening concentration. Mildly thermogenic, Rosemary carries just enough heat to keep things running smoothly without aggravating pitta. Overall, Vaidya’s Rosemary Incense is invigorating, refreshing, and stimulating. 
Soothing and Uplifting Lemon Grass Incense 
Lemongrass has a delicious refreshing citrus smell. Burning this incense in your home creates a calming environment for you, and a bad environment for certain insects, especially pesky mosquitoes, that dislike it. In the physiology, Lemongrass opens the physical channels of the whole body – brain, lungs, and nasal pathways. Lemongrass Incense instantly calms vata dosha, clearing the mind. It also relaxes the muscles.  
Purifying Sage
Sage has a long tradition of being the purifying plant/herb for all things material and immaterial. A powerful plant, it is used in many ancient traditions and rituals from across the world to cleanse vibrational negatives charges as well. Enjoy this unique SVA blend to keep a handle on the your home’s or office’s etheric purity. 
Calming Lavender 
With its unique floral calming scent, Lavender is a favorite to unwind from a long hectic day, or to keep things under control during the day. It calms the mind, pacifies the emotions, and soothes the senses. Use it anytime of the day or night to get our calmness back on! 
complete your set with the pure silver incense holder/burner and finally with the sampler pack….
SV Ayurvedic Incense Sampler Pack
An assortment of each of SV Ayurvedic Incense sticks. Contains one of each type so you can experience the full pack. 
You can now try each one by one or experience the full spectrum with this sampler pouch made for your convenience.
Happy incensing!

What an incredible session we had yesterday! We topped off our 8 weeks of detoxing with a presentation on how you can keep going into the future, maintaining balance through intelligent choices, supporting your ongoing daily detox without punishing or depriving yourself. We also shared more delicious recipes – quick easy full of protein and guilt-free pizza and “pancakes!” But most of all, we shared our stories, our blunders, our joys, our tears, and our laughters – the community we built over 8 weeks will alas no longer meet once a week, but we all look forward to coming together again in new courses and many more detox sessions in the near future. Thank you to ALL our SVA experts, teachers, doctors, healers, and THANK YOU to all who participated and made this course extra special through their questions, comments, and participation. Here’s to always more balance and bliss today and in the future. Namaste!

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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Dharma in Ayurveda – Celebrate Memorial Day! – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter May 27, 2021 – #20, Vol 11

May 28, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Most – if not all – of our holy-days in the USA have become commercial shopping holidays, symptomatic of our obsessive consumerism! How can we bring back meaning and heart into the holidays? Perhaps if we took time to look deeper, into the spirit of the occasion, there is much that could inspire us? Memorial Day celebrates the men and women who died during military service. But the USA is a young nation of immigrants, and perhaps Memorial Day does not resonate on a personal level because our ancestors did not live on American soil nor die for its freedom, so how can Memorial Day still hold true significance? Maybe it can be a reminder of the value of one’s duty: the duty one must fulfill towards nation, family, others, and self, with great sacrifice at stake, even death. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Bhagavad Gita where Lord Krishna advises a disconsolate Arjuna of the urgency of fulfilling his duty or dharma after having gained yogic consciousness:
But how do you know what is your dharma? Isn’t that the eternal question? Ayurveda does offer insight in this context. It says that we can neither fulfill dharma – whatever it is, nor enjoy life in any of its aspects or achieve yogic enlightenment, unless our body is free from “roga” or dis-ease. So perhaps our first duty is towards ourselves? Perhaps that is our primordial dharma?
To follow the timeless daily code of conduct as given in Ayurveda, dinacharya, so we can keep our bodies – this vehicle for spirit – well-functioning. Because only when we are in balance in body and mind can we then attempt to be true to ourselves by embracing who and what we already are here and now. And only then can we act for the greater societal good. But watch out: sometimes we tend to have romanticized unrealistic images of what we think we should accomplish…. What if taking measures not to step on an ant were as dharmic as saving a sinking boat? Dharma does not equal heroism. Beware the self-aggrandizing impulses of the ego in the name of self-sacrifice: this is a-dharma at its best! What is dharma then? It is what you are destined to do or be – right here right now – whatever that is. That’s it. Being the best of who you are by taking care of the vehicle that’s your body, that is your dharma. And sometimes that is all that you need to do. Just be. Be you. And that’s enough.

Because even the smallest most insignificant action on your part can have a cosmic impact: remember the “Butterly Effect.” The flapping of a butterfly’s wing can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world…. We are not alone. We live in a world where each one of our actions impacts the whole universe. All we have to do is be true to ourselves and our mere blissful and balanced presence will generate waves of bliss and balance around us for all. Science confirms this. So this Memorial Day, may we all re-discover our duties towards our selves first so that we can then celebrate others – dead and alive… Namaste! 
In our 7th Spring Detox session we covered the most insidious and prevalent of all toxins: EMF. Vaidya Mishra has revived the ancient knowledge of how Ayurveda helps us address these invisible toxins that have become prevalent in our modern culture. James presented the in-depth knowledge and shared memories and anecdotes from Vaidya’s courses as well. We closed our session with “chair Surya Namaskar” and “Nadi Shodhana Pranayam” – thank you Evangeline! Next week is our last session and we will discuss strategies that will help you stay on track after you conclude your SVA Spring Detox. In addition, there will be plenty of recipes recipes recipes – we are all just a bunch of foodies!
Did you miss signing up for detox this Spring? No worries, you can catch up in Autumn 2021. We will be announcing our next seasonal detox shortly. We look forward to having you join us.
Namaste!

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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Why Spice Up Your Sweets? PLUS A 3 Minute RECIPE, & more! – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter May 20, 2021 – #19, Vol 11

May 21, 2021 by Leave a Comment

why do we spice up our sweet dishes & drinks?

Cravings are the ultimate love/hate relationship if there ever was one! But did you know that cravings are our body’s way of private-messaging us? Letting us know we need more soma, more agni, more marut! Perhaps you have noticed that you crave sweets (full of soma thus heavy) when you are stressed out? Or you crave spicy (agni) when you feel down and out and sluggish? Or you crave crunchy salty snacks when you are hungry and vata is going out of balance? Of course, it’s a little more complicated than this – but you get the idea! 
Vaidya Mishra used to say very sweetly – no puns intended: “it’s ok to crave sweets, don’t try to control the craving; instead, eat good sweets.” Well, we know: it is a “good sweet”? Something that does not contain preservatives and flavorings, healthy sugar and fat, and also preferably, made fresh. But it’s hard to find desserts that meet all these preconditions, so: why not make your own? If it only takes a couple minutes? Here are a couple of recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth and bring more balance and bliss to your life – because that’s what it always is about! Enjoy…

Cacao Ladoo-s
Here is another recipe that uses Madhur Masala, or sweet masala, a SVA mixture to be used ideally with sweet foods in order to counter-balance their clogging soma-genic heavy property. The pink peppercorns add a special twist to the recipe and also help counterbalance the clogging effect of chocolate as they belong to the pepper family. However, some people may not like the fruity and slightly pungent taste.
The step-by-step recipe below will make 10-12 bite-size laddoos – a traditional Indian sweet made without baking. The laddoos will also keep well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks – that’s if they last that long and don’t get eaten up with the hour!
Ingredients:
  • 4 tablespoons Vegan Protein Powder
  • 4 tablespoons organic Quinoa flakes or grind your own quinoa flour in a coffee grinder
  • 6 tablespoons organic brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons slivered almonds (blanched or non-blanched)
  • 1 tablespoon organic Cocoa powder – unsweetened and alkali free
  • 3 tablespoons melted Mom’s Ghee
  • 15-20 organic green cardamoms – crushed
  • 10-15 organic pink rosebuds
  • 1 teaspoon Madhur Masala
  • 1 teaspoon whole or crushed pink peppercorns – optional
  • 1 pinch of Soma Salt – optional
Preparation:
  • Mix the Protein Powder and Quinoa flakes/flour and slowly dry toast on a dry pan. This is the longest part of your recipe, make sure you keep mixing the powder so it toasts evenly. When the color turns a golden light brown, put the mixture into a mixing bowl.
  • Next add the cocoa powder to your mixture.
  • At this point, add Madhur Masala. 
  • At this point, crush the cardamom pods and add along with the rose buds to a pan, add your ghee
  • and melt the whole thing stirring frequently. You may cook this on low heat for 1-2 minutes to
  • better infuse the ghee with the cardamom and the rose.
  • In the meantime, add the sugar to your dry mixture and mix every thoroughly.
  • Now add the sugar to your dry mixture.
  • Next pour the hot melted ghee through a tea filter over your mixture evently and with a spoon
  • make sure all your dry mixture is nicely and evenly blended.
  • Now you can add in the dry toasted and sliced almonds and mix the ingredients a little further
  • You are now ready for your final step of shaping your mixture into little balls or laddus. You can
  • use an ice cream scooper to make sure you are picking up the same amount every time and your laddus will be of the same size. Flatten the mixture in your hand and squeeze tightly to bind all the ingredients together and then gently roll from palm to palm (see the video) and your laddoo is ready.
  • Repeat this step until you finish all the mixture.
  • To top it off, you can shred some pink peppercorns on top with a pepper mill to add a twist of flavor. 
Enjoy!
We had another fabulous knowledge-filled session discussing the wisdom behind making any dish SVA with Carol Nace, certified SVA expert and educator. Recent SVA Marma graduate Jacquie Relkoff led our Samadhi Marma session with grace and humor. The talk was followed by Q&A and sharing. We continue our Spring Detox with many more expert ayurvedic teachers in the weeks to come.
Did you miss signing up for detox this Spring? No worries, you can catch up in Autumn 2021. We will be announcing our next seasonal detox shortly. We look forward to having you join us.
Namaste!

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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Why Does a Daily Oil Massage Detox & Rejuvenate You? and More… – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter May 13, 2021 – #18, Vol 11

May 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Detox & Rejuvenation
~ transdermally ~
with
Warm Oil Massage
Nowhere is the science of ayurvedic transdermal healing better illustrated than in the chapter on Abhyanga. Abhyanga is the time-tested ancient method of massaging the body with warm herbalized oils to make the limbs supple, relax and energize the mind, build resistance to physical and mental stress. Massage, when it’s done right, relieves fatigue and stress, relaxes the muscles, calms the mind, improves circulation. It is ideal to get one massage a week, or even two if you can. But if you can’t afford to get the time for one, or can’t seem to find that perfect therapist who does not leave you bruised after a too deep-tissue massage session, you can do it yourself! Doing it yourself in the comfort of your own home each morning, or at least once, or twice, per week is the best ritual you can adopt for self-care. The benefits are innumerable:
  • transdermally nourishes the body with minerals and nutrients – depending on the herbalized oil you are using;
  • pacifies all the doshas;
  • relieves fatigue;
  • provides stamina;
  • induces deep restful sleep at night;
  • promotes longevity and decreases the effects of aging;
  • Improves circulation
  • Reduces Stress and gives mental clarity
  • Strengthens Immune system
  • Rejuvenates and moiturizes all 6 layers of the skin making it smooth and supple enhancing the complexion and the luster of the skin;
  • Supports fat metabolism
  • Supports and rejuvenates fascia and eliminates tightness
  • Lubricates and nourishes the joints
  • Calms the nerves
  • Tones the muscles
  • Improves body circulation overall and helps with cold hands and feet
But why does oil massage help with Detox?
Vaidya Mishra explained that the ancient ayurvedic healers were ahead of us! They already knew, thousands of years ago, that a wide range of toxins are lipid soluble. What does this mean? Simply that even without the availability of our modern technology, they understood that many toxins settle and make residence in the fat tissue and get carried and dispersed through the fat molecules. In this sense, the fat tissue and fat molecules of the body easily become the host for these “fat soluble toxins.” When allowed to sit for extended periods of time, these toxins may cause irreversible damage.
For this purposes, when Vaidya formulated an herbal massage oil, he extracted the lipid soluble molecules of the herbs into the oil and coupled them in such a way that they would carry a detoxifying or “shodhana” effect along with the nurturing, “santharpana” and pacifying “shamana” properties. So self-massage with an herbalized oil is the best way to detoxify and to nurture your body. The benefits of oiling your body were known to ancient cultures and it’s time we brought this timeless practice back for its healthful properties. An oil massage:
  • Rejuvenates the body through the skin, by nurturing the tactile nerves through physical touch as well as the delivery of herbal ingredients
  • Reinvigorates the body by enhancing circulation again each morning
  • Detoxes – aids in the discharge of toxic buildup resulting from the night of sleep as well as longer accumulation of deeper tissue toxins
So when you should do it? It is recommended to do a morning oil massage before taking your shower – daily!  You can select the oil based you use upon the whole body skincare program for your age group (and any special needs you may have. 
When Is the Best Time To Do It?
Abhyanga, bathing, and detox can be prescribed for different times of the day according to individual needs and/or seasonal considerations. If you want to do Spring Detox, we recommend starting with a bath the evening before the day of detox. You may also do a bath on the day of detox, mornings are best as they set the tone for the rest of the day, opening channels, initiating detox, and supporting the process through the day. You will feel mentally and emotionally stronger too. However, you may also take a bath in the afternoon, after a gentle abhyanga. Best to avoid doing abhyanga in the evening on your detox day UNLESS you are continuing your detox the next day. In general, on regular work days, it is ideal to do a quick daily abhyanga as the benefits are cumulative. It’s better to do even 5-10 minutes of daily abhyanga ritual than 50 minutes once a week. Your body learns to let go of junk before it becomes accumulated, heavier, and harder to evacuate. Not to mention safer: you catch and escort out the toxic build-up before it has a chance to travel deeper into your tissues and hide there! If you skip a day, it’s ok, don’t feel bad! Just get back to it the next day. The trick is this: once you know something is good for you and you decide to adopt it as part of your daily ritual, do it NO MATTER HOW YOU THINK YOU FEEL that day – don’t give in to your mind’s excuses. Discipline is key. You deserve 10-15 minutes of daily pampering, don’t you?
How It’s Done: Step by Step !
WARM YOUR OIL slightly in the sink by keeping it under hot running water, or in a baby bottle warmer. Warm oil calms and pacifies the body and mind right away, also facilitating absorption. Pour a little warm oil into your palms and apply it onto the area you are working on.
START FROM YOUR TOES: It’s a good idea to start from the feet and the toes first and work your way up, to massage your entire body.
APPLY even gentle pressure with the whole hand — palm and fingers. If you feel some areas are tight and need a more firm grip, apply some more pressure. The pressure should always be to your personal comfort, it should not hurt. Start light and increase pressure when and where needed. You can apply more pressure when swiping down and out and lighter on the upward direction. You want to support the evacuation of used up Prana that flows down and out. In SVA, we ALWAYS go down and out. We also never go up on the spine – always downwards - unless there is a specific local issue/problem where you are focusing on a muscle etc. When massaging sensitive areas such as the abdomen or the heart, use very light pressure. Circular motions on chest area are best done clockwise; same for the lower abdomen. Go in circular motions over rounded areas such as head and joints, and straight strokes on your arms and legs. For arms and legs massage outward from core to extremities.
DO NOT RUSH Speed is a very important factor: going slow and gentle will allow the body to relax and release, and the mind to settle down. If you are in a rush, it’s best to skip the massage lest your rush through it.  
FINALLY, OIL YOUR HEAD. Use one of Vaidya Mishra’s SVA oils made especially for hair and scalp. Warm it up as well. 
Leave the oil on for 20 minutes. Cover yourself. You may leave the oil on for longer but you must cover your head with a cotton scarf or towel and make sure you warm and stay away from cold drafts. The longer the oil is on, the deeper it penetrates.
It is very important to follow your abhyanga with a relaxing warm shower to remove excess oil and toxins that got released through the skin.
When you want to do an abhyanga, but don’t have time, do the quicky version: massage only arms and legs and your lower back. It is ideal to indulge in a full body massage, at least once a week; but if it is just not happening, it is then best to at least get a quick massage on your limbs and lower back every morning. It is not recommended to do this at night or after the sun sets.
Namaste!

Dr Lisa Raskin was our guest lecturer and spoke about the neuro-toxicity of some vegetables from the nightshade family. We were all reminded why we choose to avoid tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and bellpeppers! She shared some memories and anecdotes from her time with Vaidya Mishra. It was a powerful and delightful session. We look forward to doing many more courses with her. Her presentation was followed by another enlightening talk by Elisabeth Innes, on Dinacharya or daily Rituals for Self-Care as well as the role of nutraceuticals for health.
The talks were followed by Q&A and sharing. We continue our Spring Detox with many more expert ayurvedic teachers in the weeks to come.
Did you miss signing up for detox this Spring? No worries, you can catch up in Autumn 2021. We will be announcing our next seasonal detox shortly. We look forward to having you join us.
Namaste!

Shield Your Abode
against
EMF/EMR
for better health
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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Vaidya Mishra on his Mom; and More… – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter May 6, 2021 – #17, Vol 11

May 7, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Below is a beautiful piece from Vaidya from 2012 on the occasion of Mother’s Day. It resonates just as true today as it did when Vaidya was still with us – some things truly ARE eternal… May we all grow to not just love but worship our mothers – as divinity. Happy Mother’s Day…
“Today, I am Remembering You, Mom….”
Vaidya RK Mishra (2012)
Man and woman have been equally revered since the dawn of time in the Vedic tradition of ancient India. It is explained in the Shastras or Vedic scriptures, that none has primacy over the other either spiritually, physically, morally, socially, or politically, because they are both equal parts of one whole, and each plays her and his central role, without which the other would be incomplete. In the active pantheon of Vedic gods and goddesses, Purush and Prakrti (male and female) interact, bringing forth universes through their play. Shiva and Shakti, another name for the eternal couple, also actively help each other, come to each other’s rescue whenever either encounters obstacles, supporting each other to make the world a better place to live for humans and all other creatures under the sun.
Social reality may not always live up to this Vedic or any ideal in fact; even though the mythical stories may inspire us to strive for a better world where equal rights are the rule rather than the exception. In our modern world, women have only recently been regaining their rights as active participants in public aspects of society. And there is still much that needs to be done. For example, it was on the Indian news channel, only yesterday, after highly reputed actor, film-writer, producer, and director Aamir Khan released his latest TV documentary serial, “Satyam Evam Jayate,” (“truth always wins”) casting light on the truth(s) behind social crises in India. His first episode was dedicated to the rampant murder of female fetuses and infants in India. The documentary focused on the misuse of medical technology – in this case ultrasound scans – that help determine the sex of the fetus early on. Khan exposed the existence of an underground network of medical doctors ready and willing to terminate a fetus’ life for just a few thousands Indian rupees when the parents find out it is a girl and would like to terminate the pregnancy. Since the airing of the show two days ago, NGOs and government agencies have already become active in trying to put an end to these criminal practices, particularly in Rajasthan.
It was sad for me to hear that this is still being practiced widely in India. It did not always use to be like this. A girl child, a daughter, a sister are even greater joy for celebration according to the Vedic shastras. We are taught that men and women are not only equal; but that women, especially mothers, are divine.

This sweet idea of mother’s divinity is found even our in our popular bhajans (devotional songs). For example, we call upon Seeta before Raam (the song goes: Seeta Raam and not Raam Seeta, even though after a few repetitions, they are co-mingled as both one beginning!), or within the Krishna tradition where the bhajan starts with Radha first and then Krishna. In India, woman as mother is divine, and we worship our mothers with our full hearts in all aspects, and this devotion or worship also translates into social and public rights. Do the vedic shastras have anything to say about this?
In the Vedic tradition, Purush and Prakrti are both necessary and irreplaceable. But what are they? If we try to understand the vibrational impulses that make them up – that is: the very fine activities beyond the gross physical/chemical and even more refined nuclear level, on the most subtle vibrational level of pure energy- what do we see?
Based on Vedic Sidhanta (i.e., a principle that has withstood the test of time and still holds true for us today, made of the words: Sidaha antaha yastu), Purush is silence while Prakrti is dynamism; or male and female are represented as Beej and Bhumi, a seed and land metaphor for male and female respectively; or Purush is “nistragunya” (that does not carry any creational properties or marks) while Prakrti is marked by all 3 gunas or creational properties (Soma, Agni, and Marut) that bring about worlds; or Purush represents a point, the point of silence, while Prakrti is the infinity of all.
This is why, the Shastras explain, that while masculine vibrational energy is seed for all creation, it remains just that, inert and inactive, lifeless, unless it meets with Shakti, the creational vibrational dynamism of Prakrti, because all creativity and support for the process of creation, nurturing for creation, derives from Prakrti. Shakti is the creational drive that brings about universes through and with Purush, and they then revel together in the dynamic play of multiplicity.
This is why, in India, we worship our mothers, even though we love our fathers just as much! It is our mothers that
create us in their wombs, nurture us during gestation, care and nourish us through their own bodies in infancy. Our mothers are our first school. Mother is our first teacher. Mother is our first guru of self-less love.
Many times, patients used to ask my father, Vaidya Kameshwar Mishra: “you are the Vaidya, the healer, the doctor, but who is your doctor when you are sick?” And my father never hesitated in pointing out my mother, and saying: “she is the healer’s healer!” My mother, in truth, was indeed a great healer. She maintained the SVA tradition alive at home through her cooking and seasonal remedies. But it’s much more than that.
After I graduated from ayurvedic college, my father taught me all that I know today: all the living knowledge that never gets printed and taught, because it is transmitted orally and experientially. Who I am today I owe to my father, in terms of the timeless wisdom he imparted to me.
However, it is my mother who taught me how to use the knowledge. It is she who gave me the confidence to make the recipes and apply the theory in day-to-day life skillfully. I love my father, but I cannot imagine what life would have been without my mother. I received all my wisdom from my father, but how to apply the wisdom
of the lineage with confidence and compassion, that I got from my mother. She kept me true to my dharma, by inspiring me, always reminding me of the good that was yet to come, nurturing me with her sweet unconditional love, years after I had left our home and was thousands of miles away. Due to her dynamic inspiration, I am the one I was born to become. Even though she left her body years ago, I feel her spirit still helps, guides, and loves me in all that I do – I would be no-where and no-thing without you, Mom…

ERRATUM
We apologize for publicizing Henry’s services as “vastu” in our newsletter last week. He offers consultations to help cleanse and shield against EMF/EMR, not vastu.

Shield Your Abode
against
EMF/EMR
for better health
Dr Teitelbaum was our guest lecturer and we got to ask her all kinds of questions to our hearts’ and mind’s content! We had a powerful 4th session yesterday, and we learned so much about “amavisha” – hot toxins. These teachings have been preserved and revived by Vaidya Mishra. No detox can be safe OR effective without addressing amavisha, and the knowledge resides with SVA instructors and healers. We are truly blessed. Our detox and unfolding of more knowledge continue next week as we welcome Dr. Lisa Raskin. She will be our featured guest to cover the much contested topic of nightshades from the scientific and SVA perspectives, and why you should avoid them, specially for detox. Namaste!
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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Sneha Gandoosh Oral Care? – PLUS: Vastu For You! Celebrating Pat Layton; and More… – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter April 29, 2021 – #16, Vol 11

April 30, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Oral Health & Detox with SVA Toothpastes plus Sneha Gandush
The use of oils, internally and externally, is a complete care system in Ayurveda. Doing it right, with herbal synergies and different blends, and doing it consistently, can be key to longevity and total health. Ayurvedically speaking, oil, with its unctuous, slimy, and nourishing properties, primarily pacifies vata dosha, the king of all doshas. We have learnt that when vata dosha is in check, all else follows!
Getting your oil on, at SVA, is thus naturally a highly prized daily ritual: we cook with butter oil (ghee); massage our limbs (and scalp) with herbalized oils before shower; apply a drop or two into our ear and nasal cavities for daily maintenance; and now, Vaidya Mishra will help us maintain the health of our oral cavity with his cutting-edge formulation: an oil-pulling Sneh Gandush for daily oral swishing to support the health our oral cavity, gums, and teeth. You might have already tried it yourself, or at least have heard about someone who has, or wants to… As it’s the latest of health fads currently featured on cover pages and magazine.
Ayurveda calls oil pulling (holding and swishing oil in the mouth) gaṇḍūṣa. The Carak Samhita, in the dinacharya (daily routine) section, elaborates on all the benefits of gaṇḍūṣa – and they are many: 
  • gaṇḍūṣa, or gandush, pulls and binds toxins from the oral cavity, and can thus have preventive action on the teeth, gums, and overall oral cavity, in addition to the the tongue, mucus membranes, upper throat and sinus cavity, and jaw;  
  • Gandusha hones the taste buds. This is the natural effect of “detoxing oral cavity” from build-up (ama, amavisha, and garavisha.)  
  • Daily morning oil pulling preps the appetite, clearing any fogs covering the digestive fire of the stomach; 
  • Gandush can help ward off throat inflammation when used regularly and with an herbal synergy formula; 
  • Gandush nurtures and supports lip health; 
  • Gandush can help prevent tooth decay as it facilitates the daily evacuation of food debris left in the teeth crevices; 
  • it can strengthen the roots of the teeth;
  • it can help prevent toothache as the oil balances and nourishes the nerve tissue and nerve endings;
  • depending on whether the oil mixture is fresh and non-rancid, and well balanced with herbs, swishing with it can balance the pH of the oral cavity; 
  • gandush supports the vocal chords – oil lubricates, reduces toxic load, and grounds the vocal chords.
Water or Lipid Soluble?
So you’ve heard of oil-pulling, but you probably did not know that there can be 2 distinct categories of oil pulling products, with different effects, based on the contents of your gandush mixture? Did you know that your gandush formula can be either water-soluble or lipid-soluble? What does this mean?
 
  • Kashaya gandusha – kashaya means herbal decoction  
  • Sneha gandusha - sneha means oil
Most, if not all, oil-pulling products use primarily lipid-soluble ingredients. This means that only toxins that are absorbed in and through the fat medium are addressed and eliminated. In SVADANTA, with the expert SVA approach, we use both water-soluble and lipid-soluble ingredients in the gandush formulas, to provide a total, tridoshic and holistic approach to oral care. 
The water-soluble formulations have been on the market for a few years already and many happy satisfied customers use the water-soluble oral mists – Mukh Shudhi – in peppermint or fennel organic flavors. 
Vaidya Mishra’s Mukh Shudhi is a modern version of the kashaya gandush category of oral care preparation. The Mukh Shudhi formula is based on Carak’s original formula, but presented today as an oral mist for convenience and ease of application to the oral cavity.
Peppermint or Fennel?
Vaidya’s Mukh Shudhi comes in peppermint and fennel flavors. Peppermint can be used by all body types and people; fennel is best for pitta body types, or is for those who tend to have high pitta aggravation. No matter which flavor you choose, the water-based gandush will pull out all water soluble toxins from your mouth. Sugar molecule residues in the mouth are water soluble. These molecules are the main food source for oral bacteria. Due to its herbal synergy content, Mukh Shudhi neutralizes sugar residues immediately, thereby cutting off the food supply needed by the bacteria to survive and multiply. It addresses bacteria-based oral problems and helps also address oral inflammation.  
Modern science supports our SVA understanding, namely, that oral bacteria contributes to tooth decay, gingivitis, and other oral cavity diseases. Here’s how it works, ingredient-wise. 
Water-based Gandush
Here are SVA Mukh Shudhi Oral Mist ingredients according to their actions on oral health:
• Gymnema (gymnema sylvestre): neutralizes residue of sugar and carbohydrate
• Cinnamon (cinnamonum zeylonica): supports oral immunity and fights bad breath
• Black pepper (piper nigrum): burns ama of oral cavity and balance bodhaka kapha (enhances 
the ability to taste better)
• Triphala: helps to neutralize and eliminate toxins of oral cavity 
• Clove: (syzygium aromaticum) burns Ama and opens channels of oral cavity
• Neem: (azadirachta indica) leaf creates good environment for good bacteria and bad 
environment for bad bacteria on mucus membrane of the oral mucosa  
• Babul (acacia arabica): bark is called danta dardhyakar means – strengthens teeth and stops 
bleeding gums.
• Ajwain (trachyspermum copticum): burns ama and refreshes mouth
• Holy basil (ocimum sanctum): supports immunity and refreshes mouth
• Nutmeg (myristica fragrans): calming for mind and channel opening for brain
• Peppermint (mentha piperata): refreshing and channel opening
• Tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia): supports oral immunity and channel opening
• Camphor leaf oil (cinnamomum camphora): channel opening and relaxing for jaw
• Sweet orange and grapefruit essential oil as preservatives and to help fight against bacterial 
infection
Lipid or Sneh Gandush  
Through SVA we study that the fat tissue holds endogenous (amavisha) as well as numerous types of exogenous toxins (garvisha) entering the body through the food we eat, the air we breathe, and personal care materials applied on the skin. Whether from heavy metals, pesticides, home cleaning chemicals, etc. these lipid-based toxins gradually accumulate and lodge in the oral cavity. Sneha Gandush gives use a powerful way to address and handle the lipid-soluble toxins in the oral region with oils that draw them out and bind them for safe removal. 
Vaidya Mishra’ new Sneh Gandush formula (based on the ingredients and methods of Carak’s original formula) accomplishes lipid oral detox with a mixture of sesame and coconut oils into which different ingredients have been synergistically infused to address the different needs of the oral cavity.  This tridoshic gandush oil is good for all body types, even though vata dosha gets primarily pacified by it. 
When you are shopping for the best oral oil-pulling product, you must keep in mind the rancidity factor. To make a bottle of gandush oil, in general, herbs are cooked in a sesame oil base; this has many problems. Cooking the herbs thus gives the mixture a bad flavor; and 2) this will initiate the aging process such that the final product can actually go rancid in as little as ten days.  
If it so happens that your sneh gandush product is rancid, every time you rinse your mouth, you will absorb oxidized free radical molecules into your system. We all know what that does to us! 
Vaidya Mishra’s process of making gandush oil, inherited from his ancestors, uses a secret pranic preservation method that stops all oxidization and adds a slightly sweet, pleasant flavor. In addition, Vaidya adds fractionated coconut oil, clove leaf, camphor leaf, and sweet orange to his formula.  This stops free-radical formation and makes the oil very palatable.  
Modern scientific research on oil pulling
 There’s been much written about this of late. The Indian Journal of Dental Research (here) for example, supports the ancient ayurvedic knowledge of gandush connecting it directly to the improvement of conditions of plaque induced gingivitis. There’s currently increased and developing interest in further researching the overall benefits of oil-pulling in general. The article in the Huffington Post gives a good round-up of existing findings and opinions: click here
Your SVA Daily Oral Care Routine 
Do this mornings upon waking up (and before or after brushing – optional), and nighttime before bed and after brushing:
1) Brush/floss teeth
2) Rinse mouth well with cool water
3) Spray Mukh Shudhi (your choice of flavors) 
4) Swish Sneha Gandusha Oil in Mouth. Use approximately 2 TBSP. Swish 3 – 5 minutes. Spit the oil out after 5 minutes. You want to have mouth full – but not too full of a mouth. Leave room to comfortably hold and swish the oil. (Unlike plain oils, this herbal formula quickly pulls toxins). Do not exceed 5 minutes or you may reabsorb toxins. You can, if you want, repeat the process again but with fresh oil. Do not keep swishing for more than 5 minutes with the same oil, and definitely not for 20 minutes! 
5) In the morning, you may lightly rinse your mouth afterwards. At night, do not rinse your mouth. This allows the oil to bind and evacuate more toxins overnight, further nourishing and protecting the oral cavity. 
Ingredient-wise action: 
Sesame oil: Sesame oil is used as medium to pull out lipid-soluble fractions of the herbs. Sesame oil also has the pharmacodynamic properties to absorb the prabhavas (ultimate effects) of the herbs without altering them. It has as a high smoke point (tolerance of heat) around 400 F. This gives higher boiling temperature to pull out lipid-soluble fraction of herbs and spices. Finally, because sesame is agneya (more agni) it works as yogavahi (activates and carries the properties of the herbs into the tissues). 
Fractionated coconut oil: Sesame is agneya and lot of agneya herbs and spices are in the formula (konkol, clove, camphor leaf.) Sesame alone may be a little heating for overall Western mucosa and for pitta or pitta/vata types, who won’t be able to handle the sesame oil unless it is mixed in with coconut oil, which balances sesame and the heating herbs. Coconut oil on its own can clog the channels because of its ‘condensing’ molecules. Fractionated coconut oil however does not clog the channels, as it contains only the medium chain triglycerides. 
Nutmeg: Very good to nourish gums and pull out toxins from them. Also has shamaka (pacifying) effect on the nerves. Calms down prana vata and the mind. 
Kutki: Very bitter used alone. Works very well with the combination of all the yogavahis in the formula. The yogavahis allow kutki to quickly penetrates beyond gums (even going to jaw and roots of teeth) to pull out amavisha and garvisha from deep tissues.
Kankol: A smoother but more powerful yogavahi, helping deliver effects of kutki faster. Also gives nice aroma. 
Clove: Traditionally in almost all countries in the world for toothache. Whole clove is used for extract. Opens the channels; burns ama in oral mucosa; gives nice fragrance. Initially warm but ultimately cool in its effect. Pacifies pitta. 
Green cardamom: Adds wonderful fragrance. According to Ayurveda, the seeds help burn ama of the protein molecules. The cardamom skin binds ama of protein molecules. 
Triphala: Supports the overall formula to keep pH of oral mucosa neutral. Triphala is neutral (little pro alkaline). Unique property of pulling out toxins (shodhana.) Due to amla and bibhitaki, it also acts has a rasayana that nourishes and firms the gums. Best rasayana for the mouth.
Clove leaf oil: Cooler than clove and adds even more value of clove. 
Camphor leaf: Camphor itself is very aromatic and penetrating; so it may burn oral mucosa. Camphor leaf will not do so. Opens channels of oral mucosa and the brain, acting as a refreshing yogavahi. 
Sweet Orange: Adds pleasant orange flavor and neutralizes bitter tastes of herbal ingredients. Very nurturing. 
Here’s to your oral health with SVA! 
Vastu For Your Abode
for better health
Our detox course concluded its third week yesterday. With a group of 28 detoxers from all over the world, we learnt more details about SVA detox and its foundations. In addition, we unpacked our Detox Box of SVA goodies – as one participants said, it was “like Christmas in April!” Discovering all the details of the different herbals blends, teas, creams, that Vaidya Mishra specifically made to suit the western lifestyle and physiology. We then had an open session where each detoxer shared their experiences, anecdotes, and future plans for smooth-er detoxing! It was a full 3 hour long session. We were sad to let each other go, but were ready to step away from our electronic devices for a well-deserved break!
Next week, Dr. Teitelbaum will be our featured guest, sharing her knowledge and experience of decades helping patients through SVA diet and detox. Namaste!

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.

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