www.nzayurveda.com NEWSLETTER JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 2014 Arogya Ayurvedic Health Ltd. All rights reserved. ~ A Happy New Year to all! ~ We have many changes and new courses coming up this year, so keep informed through our Facebook Page and also through our website. Ancient Ayurvedic Hospitals! Did you know, well over 3,000 years ago, the great Rishi and Ayurvedic Seer Charaka described that a hospital should have beds with carpets (as mattresses), pillows and sheets with support-pillows as well as chairs, a spittoon and a flowervase in rooms for patients? He also describes that hospitals should be constructed with animals around it and be filled with attendants who can recite the ancient texts and stories as well as musicians and singers to instil a calm nature in patients and other staff adept in assisting the patient for bathing, shampooing, those for grinding herbs and also chefs and have their own kitchens and bathrooms.
Curiously, in ancient India, we see 5,000 years ago, such structures built where houses have their own separate bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms with sewagesystems under the city as well as sit-down toilets! We also see these featured in Mihintale in Sri Lanka - the world's oldest (existing structure) hospital! NEW UPCOMING COURSES FOR 2014 ॐ नम श व य Ayurvedic Mantra-Yoga Course: (आय व द क मन त र य ग ववद य ) We will soon be launching our "Ayurvedic Mantra-Yoga" Course, which will enable one to be certified as an "Ayurvedic Mantra Yogi" through our Academy of Traditional Ayurveda. This will require the study of Durgadas's new book, "Exploring Mantric Ayurveda" as well as his other books on Yoga. This Course can be accessed by anyone in the world, but one must have Skype access for personal study and contact, in addition to assignments. For those within New Zealand who are within the Canterbury / Christchurch area or can come there, direct personal contact and guidance can be given in person by Durgadas, including specific initiations and other teachings into Mantras. One will be able to understand the deeper sides of Hindu deities, their energies and mantras relative to Ayurveda and the elements, as well as the importance of
traditional considerations and preliminary practices before using Yoga and also meditations and their specific nature. It will require personal study and guidance with Ved Kovid, Durgadas in various ancient Brahmanical and Yogic teachings passed down in his family for several generations, going back to the Vedic period over 5,000 years ago and to the Rig Veda, where he has selected key mantras for health, healing and their specific uses. Durgadas follows a traditional approach to Ayurveda and all aspects of Yoga, including Mantra-Yoga and this also requires much sadhana (spiritual practice) on behalf of those taking the course also. The exchange is that between the Teacher and student as per the ancient Gurukula system of ancient India and also requires much self-dedication, discipline and self-study. His programs are not simply generic or pasteurised "Mantra programs" or "workshops", which form a part of the New-Age and watered-down Hinduism and Yoga that has come into the West and is opposed to tradition and traditional teachings. This program as noted, details the Yoga traditions going back to the Rig Veda, the most ancient text of the Hindus and the special mantras contained there, as also their specific applications and usage. For those interested, they can apply by filling out our Course Registration form on our website and selecting "Ayurvedic Mantra-Yoga Study Program": http://www.arogyayurvedichealth.com/registration ॐ ह र ह स स ऽह स व ह Daiva Chikitsa Course - Upcoming later in 2014 ( व च ककत स ववद य ) Daiva Chikitsa is the Spiritual Therapy aspect of Ayurveda which includes advanced aspects of astrology, psychology and working with the deities, the psyche and also things such as dreams, omens, palmistry, mantras, poojas or offerings and yajnas or sacrifices to the deities. For Ayurvedic Practitioners, we will soon be launching a full Course aimed at covering all aspects of Daiva Chikitsa with Ved Kovid, Durgadas, which will require specific study of the ancient classical Samhitas (ancient treatise), the Rig Veda Samhita and other important works by Vedic scholars and Yogis, ancient and
modern. Special applications for empowering herbs, gemstones and how to use them will also be described as well. This course treats gemstones, chakras, pranic healing etc. in the traditional manner and does not include mumbo-jumbo such as "chakra balancing" and "auras" and other New-Age nonsense that has derived from Vedic traditions but has been fabricated and created by ignoramuses of the Vedic tradition. Instead, you will learn the traditional preliminaries before using mantras and healing techniques and sadhanas (spiritual practices) to accomplish them and transform yourself first and then others later. You will learn the deeper application of Pranayama along with special meditations and practices that acts as true Pranic Healing and also the secrets behind chakras and their several levels or layers of realisation and delusions as also of the mind. Many secret mantras and practices are little-known and several have been passed down in family tradition to Durgadas, which you will also be taught. Note that this is a Course that will be available only to those with a deep respect and regard for tradition and requires one submit their full birth details and Bio-data so that we can assess your ability to succeed as traditional practitioners of daiva Chikitsa and what preliminary study and sadhana you may require before starting the course. To register interest, email Dugrdas directly at ~ satyavidya@snap.net.nz ~ with the subject line "Daiva Chikitsa Course" and include: -Name -D.O.B, Time of Birth and Location (City, State, Country) -Reason for application -A brief bio-data Kali Ratanti Puja: May we all seek the blessings of Maa Kali on 29 January 2014 (Ratanti Kali-Puja). Kali helps eliminate our egoistic desires and burdens and frees us from our obstacles created by attachment to our karmas (actions). As the shakti (feminine consort) of Shanideva (Planet Saturn), the Mahakala form of Shiva, she helps eliminates all kinds of diseases caused by karma that are represented by Shanideva and other malefic planets in the astrological chart. She reminds us that we are but immortal souls trapped in a bodily frame and so long as we continue to identify with this body (sharira), we shall suffer. ജയ മ ക ല! ( जय म क लर ) (Jai Maa Kali!)
Seven Types of Bhakti: (c) Ved Kovid, Durgadas. All Rights Reserved. Traditionally, we can categorise bhakti or devotion into seven main forms, as below: 1. Para Bhakti: The transcendental Bhakti where Jivatman (individual soul) merges with Devata (deity) and one sees one's Self as but a reflection of the Devata. Sri Chaitanya and Sri Ramakrishna reached this stage. The stage of Brahmarishi or the Rishi or Seer of Brahman, the Supreme. 2. Maha Bhakti: The greater Bhakti where one beholds the Devata (deity) within all and as Atmaguru (the inner Guru; deity as the Self-Guru within )but does not merge with the Devata or Deity. It is the stage of the Rishi or Seer. 3. Sattvika bhakti: Pure, untainted and selfless bhakti. The stage of the Deva or demigod. 4. Sattvika-rajasika bhakti: Pure bhakti but with some desire, such as moksha. The stage of the Gandharva or heavenly musician and attendant of the demigods. 5. Rajasika-bhakti: Bhakti with selfish motives or worldly gains. The stage of the Asura or underworld figure against the deities. 6. Rajasika-tamasika bhakti: Selfish bhakti but for nefarious purposes - such as world domination. The stage of the Rakshasa or purely demonic personality that seeks to harm others.
7. Tamasika bhakti: Tamasic bhakti, such as self-mutilation and such for purely nefarious purposes alone of control of others. The stage of the Pishacha or the wondering ghoul. What type of Bhakta (devotee) are you? -Ved Kovid, Durgadas