Ayurvedic Support for Daily Yogic Practice through the Transdermal Marma System
Experience the bliss of the Heart Lotus Blossom
What is Samadhi?
Samadhi is a Sanskrit word made up of two roots: sama + dhi. Sama means equally distribute, in equal proportions; and dhi refers to buddhi, or the intellect. Vaidya Mishra says: “ Samadhi is the balanced coordination between mano buddhi and satya/satwa buddhi, between the mind and the “ Light of the Soul”. The Vedic texts distinguish between “mano buddhi” or the logical aspect of the intellect that deals with day to day needs, and “satya buddhi” or the spiritual intellect. “Satya buddhi” is one of the six gunas or properties characterizing an individual’s “light of the soul”, or “satwa”. The Heart Lotus, is an energytic vibrational locus in the middle of the chest that houses the “satwa”.
It has 6 properties (gunas):
Buddhi (intellect)
Prayat na (effort)
Sukha (happiness)
Dukha (sorrow)
Iccha (desire)
Dwesha (aversion)
What are the primary factors that disturb samadhi?
Environmental disturbances of Prana (life-force) that affect the body’s own pranic health
Improper flow or circulation of Prana within the body in the micro and macro channels results in lack of communication between the different subtle bodies
Unresolved past grief and trauma shuts down the heart lotus resulting in lack of mind/body/heart coordination
Current mental stress distracts the mind from settling down and going inwards to experience finer levels of awareness and bliss.
The distracted nature of the “wild horses” (senses) that interfere with the mind’s communication with the “satwa” or the “light of the soul” seated in the “ Heart Lotus”.
How does SVA support the experience of Samadhi?
The ancient sages of India who cognized the properties of herbs and spices characterized some as “divine,” because they created a balanced chemistry in the physiology attuning it for attaining more refined states of satwic consciousness. The samadhi set readies the physiology for deeper restful experiences by infusing it with calming, soothing and nurturing properties from divine ayurvedic herbs applied on marma points to enhance the flow of prana and support the experience of higher states of consciousness. When an individual experiences samadhi, or a state of ultimate restful awareness, chemical stressors cannot affect the body and cause it to degenerate. Vice versa: when the physiology is chemically balanced, the experience of higher states of consciousness is facilitated.
The Samadhi Set:
Consists of three herbalized creams that are applied on specific marma points (with the option to choose between Arjuna and Ashoka ) to support and enhance yogic experiences-coordinated functioning between mind, heart and soul.
Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna), supports the physical and emotional heart and gives strength to overcome emotional challenges;
Ashoka (Saraca Ashoka), supports the release of grief (from a-shoka- no shoka/grief).
Brahmi (Centella asiatica and/or Bacopa monnieri) : Brahmi coordinates between and strengthens dhi, dritti, and smritti, the different aspects of the intellect.
Tulsi (Ocimum or Basilicum sanctum) balances/enhance the coordination between the senses and the mano buddhi (mind).
What are Marmas?
Marma translates as “energy point”. There are a total of 107 points in one body (besides the spine). Marmas are specific points on the physiology where the physical and subtle body meet. They respond to the sense of touch. They are loci of Prana, the universal energy of Nature. Vaidya Mishra calls marma points “ switches” that turn on (or off) the flow of universal intelligence in the body, and thus support or repress life. Through the Marma System ™ we can address different stresses and imbalances in the physiology on various levels: physical, emotional, mental, vibrational. The Marma System ™ administers balancing energy on different levels simultaneously making it vary safe, powerful and effective.
How does it work?
There are five levels:
- Vibrational sound therapy – as we apply the cream on a marma point we silently repeat a sound cluster (mantra) that targets specific levels or organs.
- Transdermal delivery ( herbal delivery through the skin) – herbs are micro-molecules and upon application on the skin they cross the blood barrier and are delivered to specific locations;
- Marma energetics – the creams are applied on specific energetic (marma) points on the body that are connected to specific locations;
- Aroma therapy- the creams are formulated with specific flower and herbal scents that will help pacify the mind and soothe the emotions;
- Touch therapy – as an integral part of the Transdermal Marma System ™ (TMS ™), these creams are applied on specific marmas before any yogic or spiritual practice. Touching the prana in that marma point, cleansing the marma point of any vibrational clogging that might be causing an imbalance.
How to do it – three simple steps in less than 5 minutes:
Close your eyes and breathe gently and as deeply as possible during the following steps:
- Apply a small amount of Arjuna or Ashoka cream on the center of your palms and soles of the feet if possible ( Talahridiya marma). Lightly touch the marma with your ring finger and turn clockwise 7-21 times in circles slightly larger than the size of a quarter. Now, use your left thumb to press lightly on the point for 10-15 seconds. Repeat the entire process on the opposite hand and foot.
- Apply brahmi cream just below the wrist bone on the pulse area. Lightly go back and forth with your ring finger, covering the area of two inches for 15-20 seconds or so. Then lightly hold for 10-15 seconds. Repeat on the left wrist.
- Apply tulsi cream on Staphani marma (point between eyebrows). Circles must be very light with no pressure. Do 7, 14, or 21 times, then hold the finger on that point gently for about 10-15 seconds. now apply tulsi on center of the throat notch at the base of the throat (Kanta Marma). Circle 7-21 times very lightly for about 10-15 seconds.
- Rest with eyes closed for a few minutes and breathe deeply but gently in. Proceed to your yogic practice – this also constitutes a calming yogic practice and can be done on its own, morning or evening.
I am a patient of Maryanne Titlebaum, I have never had the pleasure of meeting with Viadya Mishra personally. However, through Maryanne I felt that I knew him thru the knowledge and experiences he shared with her. It is with my deepest sympathy I share the loss of your loved one. When the Lord calls our loved one home, he leaves a gift of memories of his blessings and work. He will be truly missed.
As a practioner of Ayurveda and bodyworker, I often start my treatments with the Samadhi set, as it is the perfect way to help the patient to settle down, awaken the self-healing mechanism and help coordinate the patients mental, emotional and physical energies prior to treatment. It has a sacred and ceremonial feeling, but is non invasive and only takes a few minutes. This is the best way to introduce somebody to the powerful healing energies that are brought to us through Ayurveda and the SVA lineage.