The charm of film and the elegance of Japan: the ideal combo.

 

My digital detoxification continues, with some satisfaction. Here are some shots of the slow passing of our weekends.

 

LEICA M6

VOIGTLANDER Nokton 35MM f / 1.4 MC

KODAK 400TMAX

Ban Sabai Village Resort and Spa is one of the oldest and well established resorts in Chiang Mai. They feature luxurious rooms and suites with a swimming pool and offers full spa service. Ban Sabai Village also offers a variety of yoga, rejuvenation and detoxification packages. Watch this video to see the beautiful Thai architecture of the resort. More information visit here: bansabairesorts.com/

Portrait of a devotee.

 

My Experience of Chhath

I am a permanent resident of Kolkata, but I never witnessed the celebration of Chhath Pooja here. Lakhs of migrant residents from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states of India and Nepal as well, celebrated their most ancient festival along the bank of river Hoogly, the sacred river that flows through the city. On 6th November this year, around 2pm, I went to a famous ghat on the bank of river Hoogly opposite to Eden gardens. It was an unique photographic journey to witness how people performed their rituals with so much devotion and faith. I saw hundreds of devotees sitting on the banks quietly with their offerings to Sun God and some performing their rituals with half of their bodies immersed in the Ganges, and some with fire, called ‘Homas’. I was closely looking at them, and I was amazed by their dedication, devotion and complacency. Thousands of devotees were found proceeding towards the Ganges with their offerings, all cladded in bright clothes and ornaments, and many were found on their way to lay prone on the roads touching their whole body (Ashtanga or eight parts of the body) on the Earth and performing ‘Dondis’(Surya Namaskara -Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार, Sun Salutation). Many of the family members, including newborn kids were found lying on the roads waiting for the main worshipper of the family to crossover their bodies as a way to get blessings from them. Most of the main family worshippers were found to be the eldest ladies of the family. Through Chhath, I rediscovered my religious India, in a new and beautiful way.

  

Chhath Pooja

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival of worshiping Sun God, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.Historically it is native to eastern Uttar Pradesh, North Bihar of India and Mithila State of Nepal.The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.The God is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is also believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. Environmentalists claim that Chhath is the most eco-friendly Hindu festival.

 

Regions Celebrating Chhath

Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal,Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP, it is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, as well in various countries worldwide.

 

Timings

Chhath puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in Bengali calender. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian English Calendar.

  

History

The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites. It is assumed that the oldest Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional pooja of the Lord Sun. They used to chant the ancient Rigveda texts and a variety of hymns for worshiping the God. In the ancient time of Mahabharata Chhath pooja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandavas of Hastinapur (present Delhi) for solving their instant problem and regaining their lost kingdom. It is also assumed that the Chhath puja was first started by the Surya Putra (son of Sun God) Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during the Mahabharata period.

 

Ethymology

The word chhath means sixth in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri languages and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.

The Goddess who is also worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the beloved younger wife of Surya, the sun god. The rituals signify rising sun as well as setting sun.

 

Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja

It is believed that worshipers of the Chhath take holy bath and follows a period of abstinence and become separate for 4 days from the main family. Throughout the period he is believed as the pure spirit and sleep on the floor having single blanket.

Devotees offer prasad to Sun at the Chhath such as sweets, Kheer, Thekua, bananas and other fruits included in a small bamboo tokari. The prasad is cooked without salt, onions or garlic with maintained purity. It is a four days festival which includes:

On the first day, devotees take bathe early in the morning in the holy water of Gange and bring some holy water to their home to prepare the offerings. The home and its surroundings should be cleaned at this day. They take only one meal a day known as kaddu-bhat cooked only by using the bronze or soil utensils and mango woods over the soil stove.

On the second day, the day before Chhath, devotees keeps fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after sunset after the worship of Sun. They offer Rasiao-kheer, puris, fruits in the puja. After taking meal in the evening, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours.

On the third day (day of Chhath) they offer the Sanjhiya Arghya at the ghat of riverbank. After Arghya, they wear the single saree of turmeric color. Other family members are waiting for getting the blessings from worshiper. At the night of Chhath a vibrant event of Kosi is celebrated by lighting the lamps of clay diyas under the covering of five sugarcane sticks. The five sugarcane sticks indicate the Panchatattva (earth, water, fire, air and space) the human is body made up of.

On the early morning of the fourth day (Paarun), devotees along with their family and friends offer Bihaniya Aragh at the ghat of riverbank of Gange. Devotees end their festival through breaking the fast by having the Chhath prashad.

 

Six levels of purification in Chhath ( a belief)

The belief of fast and cleanliness of body on the festival identify the detoxification of the body and mind in order to set up the body and mind to accept the cosmic solar energy.

Standing in water with half of the body inside the water diminishes the escape of energy as well as facilitates the prana to elevate to the sushumna.

Then the entrance of cosmic solar energy takes place in the pineal gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus (known as the Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

In the 4th stage Triveni complex gets activated.

After activation of the Triveni complex, spine gets polarized and body of devotee gets transformed into a cosmic powerhouse and gets the Kundalini Shakti.

At this stage the devotee is fully able to conduct, recycle and pass on the energy into entire universe.

  

Benefits of the rituals (a belief)

Devotee of the Chhath puja can improve the immunity of body.

A variety of skin infections can be cured through the safe radiations of sunlight.

It increases the fighting power of blood by improving the performance of WBC.

Solar energy provides the power to control the secretion of hormones.

 

Significance

Chhath puja has a special significance during the Sunrise and Sunset periods. The Sunrise and sunset are the most important periods of the day during which a human body can safely get the solar energy without any harm. That’s why there is a myth of offering the Sanjhiya Arghya and Bihaniya Arghya to the Sun at the Chhath festival. During this period the solar energy has low level of ultraviolet radiations so it is safe for the human body. People perform the Chhath puja in order to thank the Lord Sun for the lives on the earth as well as to get blessings.

The ritual of Chhath puja provides mental calmness (by detoxifying the body and mind), enhances the energy level and immunity, reduces the frequency of anger, greed and jealousy as well as lot of negative emotions. It is also believed that following the Chhath processes helps in slowing down the ageing process. Such beliefs and rituals of the Chhath make it the most significant festival in the Hindus ever.

 

[ Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath and www.varanasi.org.in/chhath-pooja ]

 

Rolleicord II, Kodak PORTRA 160, F5.6, 1/25sec, 東京都, 墨田区, 牛嶋神社

French postcard, no. 1596.

 

Sid Vicious (1957-1979) was the legendary bassist of the British punk group the Sex Pistols. He would later appear as a singer on the soundtrack of the documentary The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (Julien Temple, 1978), produced by the Sex Pistol’s manager, Malcolm McLaren. In 1979, Vicious died in his sleep, having overdosed on heroin his mother had procured for him. His sudden death at 21 only fuelled his legacy as a punk rock icon.

 

Sid Vicious was born John Simon Ritchie, later named John Beverley in Lewisham, South East London, in 1957. His parents were John and Anne Ritchie (née McDonald). His mother dropped out of school early due to a lack of academic success and went on to join the RAF, where she met her husband-to-be, Ritchie's father. He was a guardsman at Buckingham Palace and a semi-professional trombone player on the London Jazz scene. Shortly after Ritchie's birth, he and his mother moved to Ibiza, where they expected to be joined by his father who, it was planned, would support them financially in the meantime. However, after the first few cheques failed to arrive, Anne realized he would not be coming. In 1965, Anne later married Christopher Beverley, a middle class man, before setting up a family home back in Kent. Ritchie took his stepfather's surname and was known as John Beverley. Ritchie's stepfather died six months later from cancer, and by 1968 he and his mother were living in a rented flat in Tunbridge Wells, where he attended Sandown Court School. In 1971, the pair moved to Hackney in East-London. Ritchie first met John Lydon in 1973, when they were both students at Hackney Technical College. By age 17, Ritchie dropped out of school. Hanging around London, he was one of the many disaffected youth to embrace the punk spirit of anarchy and rebellion. One favourite spot was Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's then-little-known clothing store, SEX. John Lydon nicknamed Ritchie ‘Sid Vicious’, after Lydon's pet hamster, Sid. The hamster had bitten Ritchie, who said: "Sid is really vicious!" Another version was that Vicious referred to the famous song by 'rock 'n' roll animal' Lou Reed. In 1976, Vicious began his musical career as a member of The Flowers of Romance with Keith Levene (who later co-founded Public Image Limited) and Palmolive and Viv Albertine, who would later form The Slits. He also appeared with Siouxsie and the Banshees. According to Wikipedia, he also appeared as a wild fan in the short film Sex Pistols Number One (Derek Jarman, 1976) with footage of the Pistols when they did a gig at a Valentine’s Day party. Vicious stood out with his Swastika T-shirts, his spiky hair and his 'shock and destroy' attitude.

 

In February 1977, Sid Vicious joined the Sex Pistols, to replace Glen Matlock, who had fallen out of favour with the rest of the group. Malcolm McLaren had created the Sex Pistols in 1975. One of the leading forces in punk music, the band played fast-paced short songs, expressing angst and frustration about the social and political conditions of the time. Vicious’ ‘punk’ look had captured the eye of McLaren. Sid played his first gig with the Pistols on 3 April 1977 at The Screen On The Green in London. His debut was filmed and appears in Punk Rock Movie (Don Letts, 1979). The only trouble was that Sid could not play very well and had no bass guitar experience, so guitarist Steve Jones had to step in on bass duties for the bands' debut album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. Another reason for his absence for their only studio album is that Vicious was in hospital with hepatitis, due to intravenous drug use. During that period his main visitor was his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, an American groupie and heroin addict. However, Never Mind the Bollocks went to No. 1 in the British album charts, and the single God Save the Queen reached No. 2. At the end of 1977, the Sex Pistols were one of the most famous bands on the planet with vulgarity and obnoxiousness as well as Sid's hardcore punk personality as the key to their stature. Spungen and Vicious entered a destructive co-dependent relationship based on drug use. In January, 1978 the group embarked on a US tour which would only last one to two weeks because of multiple show cancellations and deterioration within the group. After the show at Winterland in San Francisco, the group fell apart, and Sid, along with Nancy in arms, was free to do as he pleased. He recorded lead vocals on three cover songs for the soundtrack of The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. The Great Rock N' Roll Swindle (Julien Temple, 1980) features famous Vicious footage, such his covers of Sinatra’s My Way and Eddie Cochran’s Somethin' Else, along with various live Sex Pistols footage. Mark Deming at AllMovie: “This film about the brief but eventful career of The Sex Pistols primarily focuses on McLaren, their manager, as he presents his ten-point program on how to achieve success through chaos, ineptitude, and abusing the music industry. Despite some remarkable footage of The Sex Pistols' infamous Jubilee Day performance and clips from their final concert in San Francisco, there's surprisingly little screen time devoted to the group actually performing.” But the video of Sid’s rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way is a classic. Venue is the Mecca of the chanson, the Olympia in Paris with royalty and elderly bourgeois as the audience. When the red curtain opens, Sid - white tuxedo jacket, torn pants, Doc Martens boots – walks the show stairs. The music starts playing and Sid sings 'Now the end is near / I face the final curtain like Sinatra in agony, but then ‘the song degenerates in hard rock' n 'roll and the vocals in wild shouting . Vicious moves ever wilder and eventually, he throws his microphone off, grabs a gun from his pants and makes a massacre the public. Vicious turns around; he makes a fuck-you gesture and trudges up the stairs.

 

With Nancy Spungen acting as his manager, Sid Vicious embarked on a solo career. Vicious performed the majority of his performances at Max's Kansas City and drew large crowds. His gigs at Max's would turn out to be his last performances. In October 1978, Spungen died from an apparent stab wound, while staying in the Hotel Chelsea, Manhattan, with Vicious. On 22 October, ten days after Spungen's death, Vicious attempted suicide by slitting his wrist with a smashed light bulb and was subsequently hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital where he also tried killing himself by jumping from a window. Under suspicion of having committed Spungen's murder and charged with assault after attacking Todd Smith, singer Patti Smith's brother, Vicious was arrested and sent to Rikers Island metro jail for fifty-five days to undergo a painful and enforced detoxification. It was revealed in the pilot episode of Final 24 that Sid was raped, abused, attacked and subjected to various other humiliating assaults, but no one has reported witnessing these events. He was released on bail In celebration of his release from prison, Vicious’ mother Anne hosted a party for him. Anne had been supplying Vicious with drugs and paraphernalia since he was young, and assisted him in procuring heroin late that night. Vicious died in his sleep, having overdosed on the heroin his mother had procured. According to the book Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, Anne scattered Sid's ashes over Nancy Spungen's grave. Nearly four weeks after Vicious' death, the soundtrack album of The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle was released. Later that year, on 15 December, a compilation of live material recorded during his brief solo career was packaged and released as Sid Sings. In 1986 the British film Love Kills/Sid and Nancy (Alex Cox, 1986). It, portrays the chaotic last phase of their lives, ending with a fictionalised stabbing scene. It starred Gary Oldman as Sid and Chloe Webb as Nancy. Mark Deming at AllMovie: “Sid & Nancy is less about drugs and punk rock than about a relationship. As directed by Alex Cox and enacted by Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb in performances so detailed that they're often difficult to watch, it becomes a heart-wrenching story about two people whose love is doomed from the start -- and who probably wouldn't want it any other way.”Julien Temple made a second film about The Sex Pistols, The Filth and the Fury (Julien Temple, 2000). His The Great Rock and Roll Swindle (1980) was heavily criticised for being too skewed towards the Pistols' manager Malcolm McLaren's version of events. The Filth and the Fury puts the band into historical context with Britain's social situation in the 1970s through archival footage from the period. The Pistols tell their side of the story, mostly through interviews with the surviving members of the group, footage shot during the era, and outtakes from The Great Rock and Roll Swindle. In 2006, Sid Vicious, along with the four original members of the Sex Pistols, was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame, although the band refused to attend. The British documentary Who Killed Nancy? (Alan Parker, 2009) examines the possibility that it was not Sid Vicious who was responsible for the death of Nancy Spungen. The legend lives on.

 

Sources: Mark Deming (AllMovie), Rowland Wymer (Derek Jarman), Pieter Steinz (NRC.nl – Dutch), Biography.com, Wikipedia, and IMDb.

Vishwa Shanti Yoga School ( Shobahana Yog Sadan) offers one and two weeks Yoga Retreats. The course includes Asanas, Pranayama Meditation Practice, Wellness – Nutritive and Preventive Health Care Classes, Ayurveda Massages, Naturopathy, Detoxification and Spirituality. Practitioners also have chances to experience the Himalayan trek and river rafting (as per the availability). Natural vegetarian food and comfortable accommodation are added benefit to practice Yoga in full sense.

  

Yoga Teacher Training in India

 

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Yoga Teacher Training in India || 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || Yoga Retreats in India || Yoga Courses for Beginners in India || Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh || 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh || 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh || 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh

 

Allow yourself a beautiful transformation with Ayurveda and Yoga retreat in Rishikesh, India. Deep within the lush green foothills of the magical Himalayas our beautiful Rishikesh Ashram will be your home for the one or two week retreat. Our Ayurveda and Yoga retreat program is comprehensive, focused on purification, detoxification and learning the principles of a Yogic and Ayurvedic lifestyle that will lead you to a more healthy, harmonious and balanced life.

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one bokeh shot a day for a year (project 'bokeh 365')

 

i started a cleanse/detox program...i was feeling out of sorts and decided to stop by the local health food store where i purchased two systems, one for the cleanse and one for the detoxification. this will get my body, and hopefully, my mind in gear.

 

when i awake, i take one glass of water with the juice of 1/2 of a lemon. i eat regularly, but limit any processed foods, alcohol and caffeine - it's been five days now, and i think i'm beginning to feel less 'foggy'....

  

Please don't use my image's on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved

  

At Yaksheetasri.com, experience a feeling of healing and pampering with a blend of relaxation and rejuvenation in the exotic ambiance imparting a sense of tranquility, peace and calm. Humans need touch and touch is a powerful healer. For thousands of years, many cultures have practiced some form of massage with the aim of easing physical, mental and spiritual aliment. We at Yaksheetasri.com, welcome you to undertake the journey within, through powerful and magical touch.

Choose from an intelligent mix of exotic treatments, traditional massages, detoxification, reflexology, scrubs, wraps, signature facials, hair spa, foot spa and the most indispensable dental spa, to let go your stress, completely beautify your body and unchain the abundant energy within you. The entire range of treatments/rituals has also been grouped into a variety of packages to suit your convenience, desires and precious time.

At Yaksheetasri.com, the team of masseurs/masseuse comprises of handpicked experts from all field of massages and treatments with ample experience. In today’s fast paced individualistic world with huge scarcity of time and energy, come to Yaksheetasri.com and find yourself and the abundant energy within you. Yaksheetasri Spa's treatments have been carefully designed to energize your body, mind and soul. The treatments have been customized depending on the location, by keeping in mind the guest's needs. An airport spa would incorporate express treatments keeping in mind, the traveler's limited time.

Whether it is an express Spa & Salon with a selected few treatments or a complex set-up with exotic features and a wide array of spa services, Yaksheetasri Spa has a complete solution for hospitality organization. With in-house design, training, product development, marketing and management capabilities, Yaksheetasri Spa can offer individual solutions from green field projects to complete spa management of existing facilities.

Yaksheetasri Spa is only leading "Premium Class" Chennai spa chain in existence. We have transformed a first class upscale Chennai Massage & spa concept in to a successful spa wonderland. This has turned out as a perfect gift for passengers who are on- the-go. Our spas are designed to encourage tranquility and well-being. We use warm earth tones of wenge & beige, world class leather seating, wooden floors, gentle indirect lighting and soothing background music to create a relaxing environment that attracts women’s only.

Additionally, Yaksheetasri Spa has developed numerous innovative spa practices that enhance the airport spa experience. We are very proud to have revolutionized the way to operate a spa, while having created the most relaxing destination in Chennai. In the past couple of years, Yaksheetasri Spa single-handedly transformed Indian Chennai concessions by turning spas into a must-have for any major are in Chennai.

Foot Reflexology

Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way.

Neck & Back Massage

A massage is the most basic of all healing techniques. Studies indicate that this touch therapy reduces stress, depression, lessen pain and boost the immune system. A back massage is the most preferred massage treatment as poor spine, postural defects and sleeping disorders are effectively addressed through this simple, nurturing and powerful touch therapy.

Swedish Massage

Swedish body massage is the original massage technique involving a sequence of movements working superficially and deeper into the tissue layers. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Massage helps in flushing the tissues of harmful deposits such as lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes . Swedish massage also stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable, and stimulates the skin and sooth the nervous system at the same time. As a treatment it helps reduce stress, both emotional and physical, and is often suggested in a program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

Balinese Massage

A Balinese massage uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure. Aroma oils used in the massage stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and energy around your body, and bring deep relaxation and wellness. Massage is a rigorous and luxurious spa treatment and a great one to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, relax and feel spiritually renewed at the same time. Balinese massage is related to the ancient Ayurveda, the Indian holistic medical system.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is an ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing by the use of plants and their parts. The roots, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds and nuts play a crucial part in this massage. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing and overall relaxation and wellbeing.

Thai Massage

Thai massage is an ancient healing art. Through application of pressure on energy lines and points, and a vast array of passive stretching movements performed with the hands, feet, knees and elbows, the body experiences profound relaxation, peripheral stimulation of internal organs, increased flexibility and increased flow of energy. Thai massage is that you get the flexibility, inner organ massage, oxygenation of the blood and quieting of the mind that is attained with yoga. Through deep muscle stretching, joint release and emphasis on breath, Thai massage offers many of the same benefits as yoga.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a particularly effective massage for people with muscular pain. Massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the oxygen flow around your body. This gets rid of toxins in very sore and strained muscles, which helps them to strengthen and heal. Deep tissue massage is often used to treat people who are recovering from accidents, and for sports injuries as it increases blood circulation in muscles that are underused, relieves chronic muscle tension throughout the body, and can also break down scar tissue and "knots" deep in the muscles.

Ayurveda Massage

According to Ayurveda each individual is a combination of the 3 doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. These 3 govern the metabolic activity in an individual. The detoxification methods like panchakarma and other health remedies ( herbal) when applied wholly/singly make the body, more responsive to medicines thereby hastening the healing process. Various yogasanas achieve, the twin propose of strengthening the body, vital organs like heart, liver etc. as well as keep the physical and psychological condition strong. Not only do the herbal remedies play an important role in internal health and well being but also external health and beauty which is quite evident from the overall appearance.

One of the most important reasons for increasing use of Ayurveda in beauty and skin care is that this system can clearly bring out a youthful clear skin in conjunction with happiness and relaxation which otherwise can’t be achieved by cosmetics. A well regulated lifestyle along with suggesting a discerning diet according to ones doshas will go a long way to strengthen ones natural immune system. Ayurveda is perhaps the first such system that recognises that all diseases are, but the direct manifestations of one’s mental conditions. Any disturbance in the 3 states of human mind (Trigunas) namely Satwa, Rajas as and Tamas manifests in the form of physical illness.

 

Our ayurvedic detox program is designed to special treatment like moisturize the body, clear toxins, and retain nutrients that make skin soft and supple.

  

Introduction To Your 6 Pack

 

Six pack abs are the holy grail of physical fitness when you ask anyone about the male or female physic. The opposite sex will like us more and people of the same sex will be envious of our perfect torso. The truth is, and many won’t tell you this is that it’s actually not that hard to get those killer abs that you crave so much. Unfortunately for men it’s much easier if you’re female to get those perfect abs.

 

Although women are genetically wired to carry more fat than men, because there body is naturally preparing to nourish a baby, and obviously fat helps to achieve this. The healthy BMI of a women is between 18% and 20% where as it is 10% to 15% for men.

 

Women also store fat in different places to men. Women tend to store their fat in Hips, Buttocks and thighs. In fact gluteofemoral fat which is stored in the butt and tops of the legs is often thought to be a sign of strong metabolic health. This is why women find it easier to get to the end goal of an amazing six pack.

 

Unfortunately for men. The main place they store fat is around the abdomen area which is a bit of a bummer if your goal is killer abs. The dreaded beer belly has dashed many a dream of the glorious six pack, but not to worry. It may not be as easy to get abs if you are a man but it’s certainly not that difficult if you follow the right plan of attack. Plan Your 6 Pack Here For FREE

 

Firstly for both men and women you need to get down to that healthy BMI we spoke about earlier. Men at 10% to 15% and women at 18% and 20%. You might be very surprised when you get here to see that your abs are already pronounced so you have already fought half the battle. The way to get to this point is to eat a healthy, well balanced diet. You need to be sure you keep your body well-nourished with the essential vitamins and minerals while lowering your BMI at the same time.

 

Phase 1

 

What Foods To Eat

 

Protein drinks for example are a great way to lower your BMI while still making sure you stay healthy and always feel full. This is because protein has a high thermic effect which basically means it’s difficult for your body to digest. As a result of this you spend more energy breaking it down when digesting it. To work out how many grams of protein you would need each day, you need to multiply your weight in lbs by 0.8, so for a 170lb person that’s 136 grams of protein a day.

 

You should also try and opt for lean meats such as turkey and chicken breast without the skin. Tuna and salmon help to keep Omega3 up and also try and keep snacks to just nuts seeds and beans. To bulk out your diet you need to stick to healthy whole grain foods which help provide carbohydrates that keep you energised, fruit and vegetables provide you with vitamins, minerals and fibre, and plenty of dairy foods which give you calcium and natural protein.

 

Accelerate your weight loss…

 

To help speed up the weight loss and get to your BMI goal you need to carry out some aerobic activities. These help to speed up the burning of unwanted calories and together with eating healthily will speed up your advance towards your killer abs goal. If you are new to cardio you must start off gradually with something easy such as a brisk walk once per day.

 

As we are trying to target our abdominal muscles it’s a good idea to try using what is called a sweat belt or Ab belt to help target the stomach area. The reason these are so successful is because of what they target. See how to get hold of a free sweat belt here…

 

Sweat Belt/Ab Belt

 

The simple answer to this is yes. Let me explain how. Firstly let me dispel the myth that only overweight unhealthy people sweat. The actual truth is that the healthier you are the more likely you are to sweat. So if you are determined to get to your ideal BMI you better be prepared to sweat…a lot! The reason you sweat more as you get fitter is your body needs to work harder to keep you cool.

 

Another more direct reason that sweating helps you lose weight is detoxification, which is directly related to weight loss. As our bodies are overloaded with toxins from pollution, poor diet, pesticides, food additives, caffeine and alcohol. Any number of health problems can occur including headaches, bloating and fatigue, but the main problems are often weight gain and cellulite. Your body holds these toxins in your fat store so it keeps them away from the body’s main organs. As sweating is the best way to release these toxins from the body then it stands to reason that excessively sweating in any given area will release massive amounts of unwanted toxins, therefore breaking down that targeted fat store while also ridding the area off access water which further helps to loose inches. As these sweat belts are designed to be inconspicuous they are really easy to wear when going about your normal daily chores. This has the added benefit that whether you are just starting on your road to fitness, or you are already an avid fitness nut you can still benefit from wearing a sweat belt as it just enhances the exercise you are already doing.

 

Tracking Your Progress

 

It’s often a great idea to keep a close track of your body measurements. Some people may go a bit too far while losing weight and this can be dangerous. To keep track of your vital statistics you can use something like a body tracking software, this allows you to measure any part of the body that you want to track and plot it in the program. As you regularly plot your measurements you see a graph developing, this allows you to easily see if you’re losing weight too fast or it gives you a massive boost as you can see in black and white how great you are progressing.

 

This is what we call stage one of operation killer abs. As we have already said, in order for you to see your abs developing you first need to be able to see your abs. Getting your free sweat belt/Ab belt is the ideal way to do this.

 

Phase 2

 

Now you are getting nearer to your ideal BMI you can move on to stage 2. In this section we need to start targeting our core fitness. There is no point just working on your abs without working the whole core as this can lead to a back injury. The way we make sure this does not happen is to use something designed specifically for this job.

 

The Ab Wheel/Ab Roller

 

At first glance this can look like a very simple piece of equipment. But don’t let that fool you. The Ab roller is actually an amazing piece of home gym equipment, which when used as directed can build muscle in not only your Abs but also your back which helps to build the solid core that we need.

 

Balancing Your Core

 

The Ab Roller actually works a number of muscle groups when used correctly. The major muscles worked with the Ab Roller are obviously the abdominal muscles, including the rectus abdominis (the so-called six-pack), the underlying transversus abdominis and the oblique’s which are situated down your sides. What many people don’t realise is that your lat’s, triceps, hip flexors, pectorals, trapezius muscles and glutes also will be worked with the exercise wheel, not to the extent that your core does but as your body tries to balance these muscles are used. It’s a great idea to use the sweat belt in conjuction with the ab roller to maximise results. Get them both for free here.

 

This is where the differences are between using the ab wheel and doing more regular exercises such as crunches and sit ups. Don’t be fooled into thinking that because the exercise wheel hits many more muscle groups, you get less of a work out on your abs. This isn’t the case. The ab wheel will target your abs and your back while also hitting other smaller muscle groups which get a work out trying to keep your weight distributed correctly.

 

Ab Wheel Exercises

 

The traditional way of using the ab wheel is to grasp it in both hands and while on your knees you roll out forward until you reach the plank position. You then reverse that and roll back to your start position without arching your spine. If you want to target a different muscle like your oblique’s then you can roll out at a slight angle. When you have been using it for a while you might want to up the intensity by starting from a standing position. You reach down and grab the ab roller and roll forward from there all the way out to the plank position. You then reverse this as before till you are back in your original pose. Again please regulate the amount of sets you do when you first get started. You will be amazed at how good this works and over doing it at the start may slow down your overall progress.

 

Phase 3

 

Ok so now you are at your ideal BMI and you have been ripping it up for a month or so with the ab wheel. You can now see some great definition in your abs and your body generally. Don’t forget the ab wheel hits lots of muscle groups so you WILL notice that lots of your body is getting much more defined. Hopefully you have remembered to keep a track of your progress using the body tracker software we spoke of earlier. Not only will this keep you going when you sometimes feel like you don’t want to work out. Also when people start noticing how good your new killer abs look they WILL be coming over asking how you got so ripped in such a short space of time. Having the data to show people how quickly you progressed might just give them the incentive they need to start and do the same. What better way to top of your new body than helping someone else also achieve theirs.

 

But were not quite done yet…

   

Electronic Muscle Toning Belts/Electronic Ab Belts (EAB)

 

Let’s start by explaining what the electronic ab belt does. Many people think that the electronic ab belt does the same job as the normal sweat belt/ab belt we spoke of in phase1. This is definitely not the case. While the normal ab belt is designed to help you lose the fat around the waist by causing a sauna effect that is concentrated around your tummy while working out, and has the effect off stripping back the unwanted fat so you can actually see the abdominal muscle.

 

There are certain people that will tell you that the electronic ab belt will get you killer abs in no time by sitting on your backside while eating cakes and sweets. Unfortunately this is not the truth. In fact it’s rubbish. I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you there is a miracle way to acquire your killer abs without any hard work what so ever. There is however a free way to aquire an Electronic Ab Belt, see here.

 

What I can tell you is this, electronic ab belts do work for the purpose in which they were made. They were designed to target the muscles which other ab exercises find difficult to reach. Firstly the EAB will stimulate the rectus abdominis (6 pack) and the oblique’s on the side of the body which are notoriously hard to work and help shape your waist, it also hits your transversus abdominis which are deep within the abdomen. The EAB is is used to polish all the hard work that you have already put in when using your normal ab belt and working through the phases using your ab wheel as well.

 

The EAB is an entirely different piece of equipment. Although it is used to get to the same end goal as the normal ab belt, the EAB has been designed to reach certain muscles which are ordinarily really difficult to work and it does this by using electronic impulses. Although we can use the ab wheel to target the muscle groups in general the EAB can laser target the muscles what want to be most pronounced.

 

Benefits of Using Muscle Toning Belts

 

So what are the benefits of using the EAB? Firstly let me emphasize that the EAB is not a substitute for healthy eating and plenty of exercise. However in today’s modern world finding the time to fit everything in is very hard and unfortunately looking after our bodies often comes bottom of our to do lists. The EAB allows you to still work those abs while doing other more mundane tasks such as cooking or shopping. You can even wear it at work so you can still put some overtime in or wear it at home while watching television. So as you can see the EAB is a fantastic way for busy people to still commit to their health and fitness while keeping up with whatever today can throw at them.

 

I hope the above article has been of help to you in your quest for the perfect abs. Please remember that although using the equipment we have recommended will get you your perfect killer abs, it does require some hard work on your part too. Remember to keep track of your progress using the free body tracker software so you can remind yourself how well you are doing if you ever feel like giving up.

 

Most important: Please read and adhere to all the instructions that you receive with your ab equipment. Saving 5 minutes at the beginning and not reading instructions could end up with you getting hurt and having to postpone showing off your killer abs…

 

Want A Shortcut To Killer Abs?

 

We appreciate that you’re dying to get those killer Abs to show off to everyone. Or maybe you just arn’t happy with your body and would love to do something about it.

 

I suppose it is easier to get talking to that fit guy/girl at the gym if you already have a toned body. You already have something in common to break the ice.

 

It’s quite an expense for all this equipment maybe you just can’t afford it at the moment?

 

Maybe you just don’t have time to get those killer Abs you always wanted.

 

What if I told you there may be an answer!

 

What if I told you that you could get your hands on a Sweat Belt an Ab Roller and a Muscle Toning Belt and they were all FREE!

 

Do you think you could find the time to create perfect Abs if all this equipment was for nothing?

 

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Source/Repost=>

abtekk.com/3-easy-step-to-killer-abs/ ** Abtekk ** abtekk.com/

The Flag Building also referred to as the Super Power Building is the largest building in Clearwater, Florida. It is owned by the Church of Scientology and was built principally to deliver the Super Power Rundown, a high-level Scientology training course intended to train Scientologists to use what Scientology describes as all of their 57 "perceptics" or senses. The interior of the building contains training suites, course rooms, theaters, and various devices intended to test these "perceptics," including a "time machine", an anti-gravity simulator, an "infinite" pit, and a pain station.

 

The complex occupies a city block at 215 South Fort Harrison Avenue. It includes a 15-story tower topped by a bronze Scientology cross visible from much of Clearwater. Construction began in 1998, was halted in 2003, and was ultimately resumed to reach substantial completion during 2011. The long delay in construction led to substantial fines being levied by the city authorities. The building is valued at $80 million and at least $145 million was raised by Church fundraising towards the project. The church denies accusations that the Flag Building's completion was deliberately delayed so that it could serve as a cash cow.[citation needed]

 

The Church of Scientology announced in August 2013 that the building would be opened to the public on October 6, 2013, with a dedication ceremony that the church estimated would attract approximately 10,000 Scientologists. However, a month later it emerged that the Church had canceled the ceremony and postponed the opening of the building. The building finally opened on November 17, 2013.

 

At 127,000 square feet (11,800 m2), the building is the largest property in Clearwater. It was originally budgeted to cost $24 million, but the cost has more than doubled to an estimated $50 million after repeated redesigns of the interior. According to the building plans, the Super Power Building will feature a grand lobby lined with sculptures depicting aspects of Scientology; theaters for training and introductory films; a museum honoring the Sea Org; and a separate museum honoring Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The sixth floor will house an indoor running track for Scientologists undergoing the Purification Rundown detoxification program.

 

The Mediterranean Revival-style building will also contain a bookstore, a library, and hundreds of course and study rooms; with a total of 889 rooms, 447 windows, and 42 bathrooms, plus a 1,140-seat dining room and two kitchens. A 124-foot (38 m) bridge connects the Super Power Building to the Scientology-owned Fort Harrison Hotel on the other side of S. Fort Harrison Avenue.[1] In January 2012, Tony Ortega of the Village Voice published leaked blueprints of the Super Power Building that revealed architectural features including a recreation of a deck on the Apollo, L. Ron Hubbard's flagship in the 1960s.

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Building

www.emporis.com/buildings/175007/flag-building-clearwater...

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

 

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus Amanita. It is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, and usually red mushroom.

 

Despite its easily distinguishable features, A. muscaria is a fungus with several known variations, or subspecies. These subspecies are slightly different, some having yellow or white caps, but are all usually called fly agarics, most often recognizable by their notable white spots. Recent DNA fungi research, however, has shown that some mushrooms called 'fly agaric' are in fact unique species, such as A. persicina (the peach-colored fly agaric).

 

Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, A. muscaria has been unintentionally introduced to many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, generally as a symbiont with pine and birch plantations, and is now a true cosmopolitan species. It associates with various deciduous and coniferous trees.

 

Although poisonous, death due to poisoning from A. muscaria ingestion is quite rare. Parboiling twice with water draining weakens its toxicity and breaks down the mushroom's psychoactive substances; it is eaten in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. All A. muscaria varieties, but in particular A. muscaria var. muscaria, are noted for their hallucinogenic properties, with the main psychoactive constituents being muscimol and its neurotoxic precursor ibotenic acid. A local variety of the mushroom was used as an intoxicant and entheogen by the indigenous peoples of Siberia.

 

Arguably the most iconic toadstool species, the fly agaric is one of the most recognizable and widely encountered in popular culture, including in video games—for example, the frequent use of a recognizable A. muscaria in the Mario franchise (e.g. its Super Mushroom power-up)—and television—for example, the houses in The Smurfs franchise. There have been cases of children admitted to hospitals after consuming this poisonous mushroom; the children may have been attracted to it because of its pop-culture associations.

 

Taxonomy

The name of the mushroom in many European languages is thought to derive from its use as an insecticide when sprinkled in milk. This practice has been recorded from Germanic- and Slavic-speaking parts of Europe, as well as the Vosges region and pockets elsewhere in France, and Romania. Albertus Magnus was the first to record it in his work De vegetabilibus some time before 1256, commenting vocatur fungus muscarum, eo quod in lacte pulverizatus interficit muscas, "it is called the fly mushroom because it is powdered in milk to kill flies."

 

The 16th-century Flemish botanist Carolus Clusius traced the practice of sprinkling it into milk to Frankfurt in Germany, while Carl Linnaeus, the "father of taxonomy", reported it from Småland in southern Sweden, where he had lived as a child. He described it in volume two of his Species Plantarum in 1753, giving it the name Agaricus muscarius, the specific epithet deriving from Latin musca meaning "fly". It gained its current name in 1783, when placed in the genus Amanita by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a name sanctioned in 1821 by the "father of mycology", Swedish naturalist Elias Magnus Fries. The starting date for all the mycota had been set by general agreement as January 1, 1821, the date of Fries's work, and so the full name was then Amanita muscaria (L.:Fr.) Hook. The 1987 edition of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature changed the rules on the starting date and primary work for names of fungi, and names can now be considered valid as far back as May 1, 1753, the date of publication of Linnaeus's work. Hence, Linnaeus and Lamarck are now taken as the namers of Amanita muscaria (L.) Lam..

 

The English mycologist John Ramsbottom reported that Amanita muscaria was used for getting rid of bugs in England and Sweden, and bug agaric was an old alternative name for the species. French mycologist Pierre Bulliard reported having tried without success to replicate its fly-killing properties in his work Histoire des plantes vénéneuses et suspectes de la France (1784), and proposed a new binomial name Agaricus pseudo-aurantiacus because of this. One compound isolated from the fungus is 1,3-diolein (1,3-di(cis-9-octadecenoyl)glycerol), which attracts insects. It has been hypothesised that the flies intentionally seek out the fly agaric for its intoxicating properties. An alternative derivation proposes that the term fly- refers not to insects as such but rather the delirium resulting from consumption of the fungus. This is based on the medieval belief that flies could enter a person's head and cause mental illness. Several regional names appear to be linked with this connotation, meaning the "mad" or "fool's" version of the highly regarded edible mushroom Amanita caesarea. Hence there is oriol foll "mad oriol" in Catalan, mujolo folo from Toulouse, concourlo fouolo from the Aveyron department in Southern France, ovolo matto from Trentino in Italy. A local dialect name in Fribourg in Switzerland is tsapi de diablhou, which translates as "Devil's hat".

 

Classification

Amanita muscaria is the type species of the genus. By extension, it is also the type species of Amanita subgenus Amanita, as well as section Amanita within this subgenus. Amanita subgenus Amanita includes all Amanita with inamyloid spores. Amanita section Amanita includes the species with patchy universal veil remnants, including a volva that is reduced to a series of concentric rings, and the veil remnants on the cap to a series of patches or warts. Most species in this group also have a bulbous base. Amanita section Amanita consists of A. muscaria and its close relatives, including A. pantherina (the panther cap), A. gemmata, A. farinosa, and A. xanthocephala. Modern fungal taxonomists have classified Amanita muscaria and its allies this way based on gross morphology and spore inamyloidy. Two recent molecular phylogenetic studies have confirmed this classification as natural.

 

Description

A large, conspicuous mushroom, Amanita muscaria is generally common and numerous where it grows, and is often found in groups with basidiocarps in all stages of development. Fly agaric fruiting bodies emerge from the soil looking like white eggs. After emerging from the ground, the cap is covered with numerous small white to yellow pyramid-shaped warts. These are remnants of the universal veil, a membrane that encloses the entire mushroom when it is still very young. Dissecting the mushroom at this stage reveals a characteristic yellowish layer of skin under the veil, which helps identification. As the fungus grows, the red colour appears through the broken veil and the warts become less prominent; they do not change in size, but are reduced relative to the expanding skin area. The cap changes from globose to hemispherical, and finally to plate-like and flat in mature specimens. Fully grown, the bright red cap is usually around 8–20 centimetres (3–8 inches) in diameter, although larger specimens have been found. The red colour may fade after rain and in older mushrooms.

 

The free gills are white, as is the spore print. The oval spores measure 9–13 by 6.5–9 μm; they do not turn blue with the application of iodine. The stipe is white, 5–20 cm (2–8 in) high by 1–2 cm (1⁄2–1 in) wide, and has the slightly brittle, fibrous texture typical of many large mushrooms. At the base is a bulb that bears universal veil remnants in the form of two to four distinct rings or ruffs. Between the basal universal veil remnants and gills are remnants of the partial veil (which covers the gills during development) in the form of a white ring. It can be quite wide and flaccid with age. There is generally no associated smell other than a mild earthiness.

 

Although very distinctive in appearance, the fly agaric has been mistaken for other yellow to red mushroom species in the Americas, such as Armillaria cf. mellea and the edible A. basii—a Mexican species similar to A. caesarea of Europe. Poison control centres in the U.S. and Canada have become aware that amarill (Spanish for 'yellow') is a common name for the A. caesarea-like species in Mexico. A. caesarea is distinguished by its entirely orange to red cap, which lacks the numerous white warty spots of the fly agaric (though these sometimes wash away during heavy rain). Furthermore, the stem, gills and ring of A. caesarea are bright yellow, not white. The volva is a distinct white bag, not broken into scales. In Australia, the introduced fly agaric may be confused with the native vermilion grisette (Amanita xanthocephala), which grows in association with eucalypts. The latter species generally lacks the white warts of A. muscaria and bears no ring. Additionally, immature button forms resemble puffballs.

 

Controversy

Amanita muscaria var. formosa is now a synonym for Amanita muscaria var. guessowii.

Amanita muscaria varies considerably in its morphology, and many authorities recognize several subspecies or varieties within the species. In The Agaricales in Modern Taxonomy, German mycologist Rolf Singer listed three subspecies, though without description: A. muscaria ssp. muscaria, A. muscaria ssp. americana, and A. muscaria ssp. flavivolvata.

 

However, a 2006 molecular phylogenetic study of different regional populations of A. muscaria by mycologist József Geml and colleagues found three distinct clades within this species representing, roughly, Eurasian, Eurasian "subalpine", and North American populations. Specimens belonging to all three clades have been found in Alaska; this has led to the hypothesis that this was the centre of diversification for this species. The study also looked at four named varieties of the species: var. alba, var. flavivolvata, var. formosa (including var. guessowii), and var. regalis from both areas. All four varieties were found within both the Eurasian and North American clades, evidence that these morphological forms are polymorphisms rather than distinct subspecies or varieties. Further molecular study by Geml and colleagues published in 2008 show that these three genetic groups, plus a fourth associated with oak–hickory–pine forest in the southeastern United States and two more on Santa Cruz Island in California, are delineated from each other enough genetically to be considered separate species. Thus A. muscaria as it stands currently is, evidently, a species complex. The complex also includes at least three other closely related taxa that are currently regarded as species: A. breckonii is a buff-capped mushroom associated with conifers from the Pacific Northwest, and the brown-capped A. gioiosa and A. heterochroma from the Mediterranean Basin and from Sardinia respectively. Both of these last two are found with Eucalyptus and Cistus trees, and it is unclear whether they are native or introduced from Australia.

 

Distribution and habitat

A. muscaria is a cosmopolitan mushroom, native to conifer and deciduous woodlands throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including higher elevations of warmer latitudes in regions such as Hindu Kush, the Mediterranean and also Central America. A recent molecular study proposes that it had an ancestral origin in the Siberian–Beringian region in the Tertiary period, before radiating outwards across Asia, Europe and North America. The season for fruiting varies in different climates: fruiting occurs in summer and autumn across most of North America, but later in autumn and early winter on the Pacific coast. This species is often found in similar locations to Boletus edulis, and may appear in fairy rings. Conveyed with pine seedlings, it has been widely transported into the southern hemisphere, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America, where it can be found in the Brazilian states of Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul.

 

Ectomycorrhizal, A. muscaria forms symbiotic relationships with many trees, including pine, oak, spruce, fir, birch, and cedar. Commonly seen under introduced trees, A. muscaria is the fungal equivalent of a weed in New Zealand, Tasmania and Victoria, forming new associations with southern beech (Nothofagus). The species is also invading a rainforest in Australia, where it may be displacing the native species. It appears to be spreading northwards, with recent reports placing it near Port Macquarie on the New South Wales north coast. It was recorded under silver birch (Betula pendula) in Manjimup, Western Australia in 2010. Although it has apparently not spread to eucalypts in Australia, it has been recorded associating with them in Portugal. Commonly found throughout the great Southern region of western Australia, it is regularly found growing on Pinus radiata.

 

Toxicity

a tall red mushroom with a few white spots on the cap

Mature. The white spots may wash off with heavy rainfall.

A. muscaria poisoning has occurred in young children and in people who ingested the mushrooms for a hallucinogenic experience, or who confused it with an edible species.

 

A. muscaria contains several biologically active agents, at least one of which, muscimol, is known to be psychoactive. Ibotenic acid, a neurotoxin, serves as a prodrug to muscimol, with a small amount likely converting to muscimol after ingestion. An active dose in adults is approximately 6 mg muscimol or 30 to 60 mg ibotenic acid; this is typically about the amount found in one cap of Amanita muscaria. The amount and ratio of chemical compounds per mushroom varies widely from region to region and season to season, which can further confuse the issue. Spring and summer mushrooms have been reported to contain up to 10 times more ibotenic acid and muscimol than autumn fruitings.

 

Deaths from A. muscaria have been reported in historical journal articles and newspaper reports, but with modern medical treatment, fatal poisoning from ingesting this mushroom is extremely rare. Many books list A. muscaria as deadly, but according to David Arora, this is an error that implies the mushroom is far more toxic than it is. Furthermore, The North American Mycological Association has stated that there were "no reliably documented cases of death from toxins in these mushrooms in the past 100 years".

 

The active constituents of this species are water-soluble, and boiling and then discarding the cooking water at least partly detoxifies A. muscaria. Drying may increase potency, as the process facilitates the conversion of ibotenic acid to the more potent muscimol. According to some sources, once detoxified, the mushroom becomes edible. Patrick Harding describes the Sami custom of processing the fly agaric through reindeer.

 

Pharmacology

Ibotenic acid, a prodrug to muscimol found in A. muscaria

Muscarine, discovered in 1869, was long thought to be the active hallucinogenic agent in A. muscaria. Muscarine binds with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors leading to the excitation of neurons bearing these receptors. The levels of muscarine in Amanita muscaria are minute when compared with other poisonous fungi such as Inosperma erubescens, the small white Clitocybe species C. dealbata and C. rivulosa. The level of muscarine in A. muscaria is too low to play a role in the symptoms of poisoning.

 

The major toxins involved in A. muscaria poisoning are muscimol (3-hydroxy-5-aminomethyl-1-isoxazole, an unsaturated cyclic hydroxamic acid) and the related amino acid ibotenic acid. Muscimol is the product of the decarboxylation (usually by drying) of ibotenic acid. Muscimol and ibotenic acid were discovered in the mid-20th century. Researchers in England, Japan, and Switzerland showed that the effects produced were due mainly to ibotenic acid and muscimol, not muscarine. These toxins are not distributed uniformly in the mushroom. Most are detected in the cap of the fruit, a moderate amount in the base, with the smallest amount in the stalk. Quite rapidly, between 20 and 90 minutes after ingestion, a substantial fraction of ibotenic acid is excreted unmetabolised in the urine of the consumer. Almost no muscimol is excreted when pure ibotenic acid is eaten, but muscimol is detectable in the urine after eating A. muscaria, which contains both ibotenic acid and muscimol.

 

Ibotenic acid and muscimol are structurally related to each other and to two major neurotransmitters of the central nervous system: glutamic acid and GABA respectively. Ibotenic acid and muscimol act like these neurotransmitters, muscimol being a potent GABAA agonist, while ibotenic acid is an agonist of NMDA glutamate receptors and certain metabotropic glutamate receptors which are involved in the control of neuronal activity. It is these interactions which are thought to cause the psychoactive effects found in intoxication.

 

Muscazone is another compound that has more recently been isolated from European specimens of the fly agaric. It is a product of the breakdown of ibotenic acid by ultra-violet radiation. Muscazone is of minor pharmacological activity compared with the other agents. Amanita muscaria and related species are known as effective bioaccumulators of vanadium; some species concentrate vanadium to levels of up to 400 times those typically found in plants. Vanadium is present in fruit-bodies as an organometallic compound called amavadine. The biological importance of the accumulation process is unknown.

 

Symptoms

Fly agarics are best known for the unpredictability of their effects. Depending on habitat and the amount ingested per body weight, effects can range from mild nausea and twitching to drowsiness, cholinergic crisis-like effects (low blood pressure, sweating and salivation), auditory and visual distortions, mood changes, euphoria, relaxation, ataxia, and loss of equilibrium (like with tetanus.)

 

In cases of serious poisoning the mushroom causes delirium, somewhat similar in effect to anticholinergic poisoning (such as that caused by Datura stramonium), characterised by bouts of marked agitation with confusion, hallucinations, and irritability followed by periods of central nervous system depression. Seizures and coma may also occur in severe poisonings. Symptoms typically appear after around 30 to 90 minutes and peak within three hours, but certain effects can last for several days. In the majority of cases recovery is complete within 12 to 24 hours. The effect is highly variable between individuals, with similar doses potentially causing quite different reactions. Some people suffering intoxication have exhibited headaches up to ten hours afterwards.[56] Retrograde amnesia and somnolence can result following recovery.

 

Treatment

Medical attention should be sought in cases of suspected poisoning. If the delay between ingestion and treatment is less than four hours, activated charcoal is given. Gastric lavage can be considered if the patient presents within one hour of ingestion. Inducing vomiting with syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended in any poisoning situation.

 

There is no antidote, and supportive care is the mainstay of further treatment for intoxication. Though sometimes referred to as a deliriant and while muscarine was first isolated from A. muscaria and as such is its namesake, muscimol does not have action, either as an agonist or antagonist, at the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor site, and therefore atropine or physostigmine as an antidote is not recommended. If a patient is delirious or agitated, this can usually be treated by reassurance and, if necessary, physical restraints. A benzodiazepine such as diazepam or lorazepam can be used to control combativeness, agitation, muscular overactivity, and seizures. Only small doses should be used, as they may worsen the respiratory depressant effects of muscimol. Recurrent vomiting is rare, but if present may lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances; intravenous rehydration or electrolyte replacement may be required. Serious cases may develop loss of consciousness or coma, and may need intubation and artificial ventilation. Hemodialysis can remove the toxins, although this intervention is generally considered unnecessary. With modern medical treatment the prognosis is typically good following supportive treatment.

 

Uses

The wide range of psychoactive effects have been variously described as depressant, sedative-hypnotic, psychedelic, dissociative, or deliriant; paradoxical effects such as stimulation may occur however. Perceptual phenomena such as synesthesia, macropsia, and micropsia may occur; the latter two effects may occur either simultaneously or alternatingly, as part of Alice in Wonderland syndrome, collectively known as dysmetropsia, along with related distortions pelopsia and teleopsia. Some users report lucid dreaming under the influence of its hypnotic effects. Unlike Psilocybe cubensis, A. muscaria cannot be commercially cultivated, due to its mycorrhizal relationship with the roots of pine trees. However, following the outlawing of psilocybin mushrooms in the United Kingdom in 2006, the sale of the still legal A. muscaria began increasing.

 

Marija Gimbutas reported to R. Gordon Wasson that in remote areas of Lithuania, A. muscaria has been consumed at wedding feasts, in which mushrooms were mixed with vodka. She also reported that the Lithuanians used to export A. muscaria to the Sami in the Far North for use in shamanic rituals. The Lithuanian festivities are the only report that Wasson received of ingestion of fly agaric for religious use in Eastern Europe.

 

Siberia

A. muscaria was widely used as an entheogen by many of the indigenous peoples of Siberia. Its use was known among almost all of the Uralic-speaking peoples of western Siberia and the Paleosiberian-speaking peoples of the Russian Far East. There are only isolated reports of A. muscaria use among the Tungusic and Turkic peoples of central Siberia and it is believed that on the whole entheogenic use of A. muscaria was not practised by these peoples. In western Siberia, the use of A. muscaria was restricted to shamans, who used it as an alternative method of achieving a trance state. (Normally, Siberian shamans achieve trance by prolonged drumming and dancing.) In eastern Siberia, A. muscaria was used by both shamans and laypeople alike, and was used recreationally as well as religiously. In eastern Siberia, the shaman would take the mushrooms, and others would drink his urine. This urine, still containing psychoactive elements, may be more potent than the A. muscaria mushrooms with fewer negative effects such as sweating and twitching, suggesting that the initial user may act as a screening filter for other components in the mushroom.

 

The Koryak of eastern Siberia have a story about the fly agaric (wapaq) which enabled Big Raven to carry a whale to its home. In the story, the deity Vahiyinin ("Existence") spat onto earth, and his spittle became the wapaq, and his saliva becomes the warts. After experiencing the power of the wapaq, Raven was so exhilarated that he told it to grow forever on earth so his children, the people, could learn from it. Among the Koryaks, one report said that the poor would consume the urine of the wealthy, who could afford to buy the mushrooms. It was reported that the local reindeer would often follow an individual intoxicated by the muscimol mushroom, and if said individual were to urinate in snow the reindeer would become similarly intoxicated and the Koryak people's would use the drunken state of the reindeer to more easily rope and hunt them.

 

Other reports and theories

The Finnish historian T. I. Itkonen mentions that A. muscaria was once used among the Sámi peoples. Sorcerers in Inari would consume fly agarics with seven spots. In 1979, Said Gholam Mochtar and Hartmut Geerken published an article in which they claimed to have discovered a tradition of medicinal and recreational use of this mushroom among a Parachi-speaking group in Afghanistan. There are also unconfirmed reports of religious use of A. muscaria among two Subarctic Native American tribes. Ojibwa ethnobotanist Keewaydinoquay Peschel reported its use among her people, where it was known as miskwedo (an abbreviation of the name oshtimisk wajashkwedo (= "red-top mushroom"). This information was enthusiastically received by Wasson, although evidence from other sources was lacking. There is also one account of a Euro-American who claims to have been initiated into traditional Tlicho use of Amanita muscaria. The flying reindeer of Santa Claus, who is called Joulupukki in Finland, could symbolize the use of A. muscaria by Sámi shamans. However, Sámi scholars and the Sámi peoples themselves refute any connection between Santa Claus and Sámi history or culture.

 

"The story of Santa emerging from a Sámi shamanic tradition has a critical number of flaws," asserts Tim Frandy, assistant professor of Nordic Studies at the University of British Columbia and a member of the Sámi descendent community in North America. "The theory has been widely criticized by Sámi people as a stereotypical and problematic romanticized misreading of actual Sámi culture."

 

Vikings

The notion that Vikings used A. muscaria to produce their berserker rages was first suggested by the Swedish professor Samuel Ödmann in 1784. Ödmann based his theories on reports about the use of fly agaric among Siberian shamans. The notion has become widespread since the 19th century, but no contemporary sources mention this use or anything similar in their description of berserkers. Muscimol is generally a mild relaxant, but it can create a range of different reactions within a group of people. It is possible that it could make a person angry, or cause them to be "very jolly or sad, jump about, dance, sing or give way to great fright". Comparative analysis of symptoms have, however, since shown Hyoscyamus niger to be a better fit to the state that characterises the berserker rage.

 

Soma

See also: Botanical identity of Soma-Haoma

In 1968, R. Gordon Wasson proposed that A. muscaria was the soma talked about in the Rigveda of India, a claim which received widespread publicity and popular support at the time. He noted that descriptions of Soma omitted any description of roots, stems or seeds, which suggested a mushroom, and used the adjective hári "dazzling" or "flaming" which the author interprets as meaning red. One line described men urinating Soma; this recalled the practice of recycling urine in Siberia. Soma is mentioned as coming "from the mountains", which Wasson interpreted as the mushroom having been brought in with the Aryan migrants from the north. Indian scholars Santosh Kumar Dash and Sachinanda Padhy pointed out that both eating of mushrooms and drinking of urine were proscribed, using as a source the Manusmṛti. In 1971, Vedic scholar John Brough from Cambridge University rejected Wasson's theory and noted that the language was too vague to determine a description of Soma. In his 1976 survey, Hallucinogens and Culture, anthropologist Peter T. Furst evaluated the evidence for and against the identification of the fly agaric mushroom as the Vedic Soma, concluding cautiously in its favour. Kevin Feeney and Trent Austin compared the references in the Vedas with the filtering mechanisms in the preparation of Amanita muscaria and published findings supporting the proposal that fly-agaric mushrooms could be a likely candidate for the sacrament. Other proposed candidates include Psilocybe cubensis, Peganum harmala, and Ephedra.

 

Christianity

Philologist, archaeologist, and Dead Sea Scrolls scholar John Marco Allegro postulated that early Christian theology was derived from a fertility cult revolving around the entheogenic consumption of A. muscaria in his 1970 book The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross. This theory has found little support by scholars outside the field of ethnomycology. The book was widely criticized by academics and theologians, including Sir Godfrey Driver, emeritus Professor of Semitic Philology at Oxford University and Henry Chadwick, the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. Christian author John C. King wrote a detailed rebuttal of Allegro's theory in the 1970 book A Christian View of the Mushroom Myth; he notes that neither fly agarics nor their host trees are found in the Middle East, even though cedars and pines are found there, and highlights the tenuous nature of the links between biblical and Sumerian names coined by Allegro. He concludes that if the theory were true, the use of the mushroom must have been "the best kept secret in the world" as it was so well concealed for two thousand years.

 

Fly trap

Amanita muscaria is traditionally used for catching flies possibly due to its content of ibotenic acid and muscimol, which lead to its common name "fly agaric". Recently, an analysis of nine different methods for preparing A. muscaria for catching flies in Slovenia have shown that the release of ibotenic acid and muscimol did not depend on the solvent (milk or water) and that thermal and mechanical processing led to faster extraction of ibotenic acid and muscimol.

 

Culinary

The toxins in A. muscaria are water-soluble: parboiling A. muscaria fruit bodies can detoxify them and render them edible, although consumption of the mushroom as a food has never been widespread. The consumption of detoxified A. muscaria has been practiced in some parts of Europe (notably by Russian settlers in Siberia) since at least the 19th century, and likely earlier. The German physician and naturalist Georg Heinrich von Langsdorff wrote the earliest published account on how to detoxify this mushroom in 1823. In the late 19th century, the French physician Félix Archimède Pouchet was a populariser and advocate of A. muscaria consumption, comparing it to manioc, an important food source in tropical South America that must also be detoxified before consumption.

 

Use of this mushroom as a food source also seems to have existed in North America. A classic description of this use of A. muscaria by an African-American mushroom seller in Washington, D.C., in the late 19th century is described by American botanist Frederick Vernon Coville. In this case, the mushroom, after parboiling, and soaking in vinegar, is made into a mushroom sauce for steak. It is also consumed as a food in parts of Japan. The most well-known current use as an edible mushroom is in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. There, it is primarily salted and pickled.

 

A 2008 paper by food historian William Rubel and mycologist David Arora gives a history of consumption of A. muscaria as a food and describes detoxification methods. They advocate that Amanita muscaria be described in field guides as an edible mushroom, though accompanied by a description on how to detoxify it. The authors state that the widespread descriptions in field guides of this mushroom as poisonous is a reflection of cultural bias, as several other popular edible species, notably morels, are also toxic unless properly cooked.

 

In culture

The red-and-white spotted toadstool is a common image in many aspects of popular culture. Garden ornaments and children's picture books depicting gnomes and fairies, such as the Smurfs, often show fly agarics used as seats, or homes. Fly agarics have been featured in paintings since the Renaissance, albeit in a subtle manner. For instance, in Hieronymus Bosch's painting, The Garden of Earthly Delights, the mushroom can be seen on the left-hand panel of the work. In the Victorian era they became more visible, becoming the main topic of some fairy paintings. Two of the most famous uses of the mushroom are in the Mario franchise (specifically two of the Super Mushroom power-up items and the platforms in several stages which are based on a fly agaric), and the dancing mushroom sequence in the 1940 Disney film Fantasia.

 

An account of the journeys of Philip von Strahlenberg to Siberia and his descriptions of the use of the mukhomor there was published in English in 1736. The drinking of urine of those who had consumed the mushroom was commented on by Anglo-Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith in his widely read 1762 novel, Citizen of the World. The mushroom had been identified as the fly agaric by this time. Other authors recorded the distortions of the size of perceived objects while intoxicated by the fungus, including naturalist Mordecai Cubitt Cooke in his books The Seven Sisters of Sleep and A Plain and Easy Account of British Fungi. This observation is thought to have formed the basis of the effects of eating the mushroom in the 1865 popular story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. A hallucinogenic "scarlet toadstool" from Lappland is featured as a plot element in Charles Kingsley's 1866 novel Hereward the Wake based on the medieval figure of the same name. Thomas Pynchon's 1973 novel Gravity's Rainbow describes the fungus as a "relative of the poisonous Destroying angel" and presents a detailed description of a character preparing a cookie bake mixture from harvested Amanita muscaria. Fly agaric shamanism is also explored in the 2003 novel Thursbitch by Alan Garner.

Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is a component in East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu that has been processed in some way. Tofu is bought or made to be soft, firm, or extra firm. Tofu has a subtle flavor and can be used in savory and sweet dishes. It is often seasoned or marinated to suit the dish.

 

Tofu originated in Han dynasty China some 2,000 years ago. Chinese legend ascribes its invention to prince Liu An (179–122 BC). Tofu and its production technique were introduced into Korea and then Japan during the Nara period (710–794). Some scholars believe tofu arrived in Vietnam during the 10th and 11th century. It spread into other parts of Southeast Asia as well. This spread probably coincided with the spread of Buddhism because it is an important source of protein in the vegetarian diet of East Asian Buddhism. Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty described a method of making tofu in the Compendium of Materia Medica.

 

Tofu has a low calorie count and relatively large amounts of protein. It is high in iron, and depending on the coagulants used in manufacturing (e.g. calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate), it can have higher calcium or magnesium content.

 

The term tofu by extension can be used in similarly textured curdled dishes that do not use soy products at all, such as "almond tofu" (almond jelly), tamago-dōfu (ja) (egg), goma-dōfu (ja) (sesame), or peanut tofu (Chinese 落花生豆腐 luòhuāshēng dòufu and Okinawan jīmāmi-dōfu (ja)).

 

ETYMOLOGY

The English term comes from Japanese tōfu (豆腐), borrowed from the original Chinese equivalent (豆腐 or 荳腐) transcribed tou4-fu3 (Wade-Giles) or dòufu (pinyin), literally "bean" (豆) + "curdled" or "fermented" (腐).

 

A reference to the word "towfu" exists in a letter dated 1770 from English merchant James Flint to United States statesman and scientist Benjamin Franklin. This is believed to be the first documented usage of the word in English.

 

The term "bean curd(s)" for tofu has been used in the United States since at least 1840. It is not frequently used, however, in the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand.

 

PRODUCTION

Tofu is made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the resulting curds. Although pre-made soy milk may be used, some tofu producers begin by making their own soy milk, which is produced by soaking, grinding, boiling and straining dried (or, less commonly, fresh) soybeans.

 

Coagulation of the protein and oil (emulsion) suspended in the boiled soy milk is the most important step in the production of tofu. This process is accomplished with the aid of coagulants. Two types of coagulants (salts and acids) are used commercially.

 

SALT COAGULANTS

Calcium sulfate (gypsum): The traditional and most widely used coagulant to produce Chinese-style tofu. It produces a tofu that is tender but slightly brittle in texture. The coagulant itself has no perceivable taste. Use of this coagulant also makes a tofu that is rich in calcium. As such, many tofu manufacturers choose to use this coagulant to be able to market their tofu as a good source of dietary calcium.

 

Chloride-type Nigari salts or Lushui ( Traditional: 鹵水, 滷水; Simplified: 卤水, lǔshuǐ) - Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride: Both of these salts have a high solubility in water and affect soy protein in the same way, whereas gypsum is only very slightly soluble in water and acts differently in soy protein precipitation, the basis for tofu formation. These are the coagulants used to make tofu with a smooth and tender texture. In Japan, a white powder called nigari, which consists primarily of magnesium chloride, is produced from seawater after the sodium chloride is removed and the water evaporated. Depending on its production method, nigari/Lushui may also contain small quantities of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and trace amounts of other naturally occurring salts. Although the term nigari is derived from nigai, the Japanese word for "bitter," neither nigari nor pure magnesium chloride imparts a perceivable taste to the finished tofu. Calcium chloride is a common coagulant for tofu in North America. Fresh clean sea water itself can also be used as a coagulant.

 

ACID COAGULANTS

Glucono delta-lactone (GDL): A naturally occurring organic acid also used in cheese making, which produces a very fine textured tofu that is almost jelly-like. This coagulant is used especially for "silken" and softer tofus, and confers an almost imperceptible sour taste to the finished product. Commonly used together with calcium sulfate to give soft tofu a smooth tender texture.

Other edible acids: Though they can affect the taste of the tofu more, and vary in efficacy and texture, acids such as acetic acid (vinegar) and citric acid (such as lemon juice), can also be used to coagulate soy milk and produce tofu.

 

ENZYME COAGULANTS

Among enzymes that have been shown to produce tofu are papain, and alkaline and neutral proteases from microorganisms. In the case of papain, the enzyme to substrate ratio, by weight, was held constant at 1:400. An aliquot of 1% crude papain was added to "uncooked" soy milk at room temperature and heated to 90–100 °C. Papain, moreover, has been studied as a gelling agent to produce "instant tofu" from soy protein isolate and soy glycinin (11S) protein.

 

Contemporary tofu manufacturers may choose to use one or more of these coagulants, since they each play a role in producing a desired texture in the finished tofu.Different textures result from different pore sizes and other microscopic features in tofus produced using each coagulant. The coagulant mixture is dissolved into water, and the solution is then stirred into boiled soy milk until the mixture curdles into a soft gel.

 

The curds are processed differently depending on the form of tofu that is being manufactured. For soft silken tofu (嫩豆腐; nèn dòufu) or tofu flower (豆花, dòuhuā) the soy milk is curdled directly in the tofu's selling package. For standard firm Asian tofu, the soy curd is cut and strained of excess liquid using cheese cloth or muslin and then lightly pressed to produce a soft cake. Firmer tofus, such as Asian dry tofu (豆干) or Western types of tofu, are further pressed to remove even more liquid. In Vietnam, the curd is strained and molded in a square mold and the end product is called đậu khuôn (molded bean) or đậu phụ (one of the Vietnamese ways to pronounce the Chinese dòufu). The tofu curds are allowed to cool and become firm. The finished tofu can then be cut into pieces, flavored or further processed.

 

Although tartness is sometimes desired in dessert tofu, the acid used in flavoring is usually not the primary coagulant since it is not desirable to the flavor or texture of the resulting tofu to add it in a sufficiently high concentration so as to induce coagulation. A sour taste in tofu and a slight cloudiness in its storing liquid is also usually an indication of bacterial growth and, hence, spoilage.

 

VARIETIES

There is a wide variety of tofu available in both Western and Eastern markets. Despite the large variety, tofu products can be split into two main categories: fresh tofu, which is produced directly from soy milk, and processed tofu, which is produced from fresh tofu. Tofu production also creates important side products which are often used in various cuisines.

 

FRESH TOFU

Depending on the amount of water that is extracted from the tofu curds, fresh tofu can be divided into three main varieties. Fresh tofu is usually sold completely immersed in water to maintain its moisture content.

 

SOFT OR SILKEN TOFU

Soft/silken tofu (嫩豆腐 or 滑豆腐, nèn dòufu or huá dòufu, in Chinese, lit. "soft tofu" or "smooth tofu"; 絹漉し豆腐, kinugoshi tōfu in Japanese, lit. "silk-filtered tofu"; 순두부, 純豆腐, sundubu in Korean, lit. "pure tofu") is undrained, unpressed tofu that contains the highest moisture content of all fresh tofus. Silken tofu is produced by coagulating soy milk without curdling it. Silken tofu is available in several consistencies, including "soft" and "firm", but all silken tofu is more delicate than regular firm tofu (pressed tofu) and has different culinary uses. In Japan and Korea, traditional soft tofu is made with seawater. Silken tofu is a versatile, reliable substitute for dairy and eggs, especially for smoothies and baked desserts.

 

Douhua (豆花, dòuhuā or 豆腐花, dòufuhuā in Chinese), or tofu brain (豆腐腦 or 豆腐脑, dòufunaǒ in Chinese) is often eaten as a dessert, but sometimes salty pickles or hot sauce are added instead. This is a type of soft tofu with an even higher moisture content. Because it is very difficult to pick up with chopsticks, it is generally eaten with a spoon. With the addition of flavorings such as finely chopped spring onions, dried shrimp, soy sauce, chilli sauce, douhua is a popular breakfast dish across China. In Malaysia, douhua is usually served warm with white or dark (palm) sugar syrup, or served cold with longans.

 

Some variation exists among soft tofus. Black douhua (黑豆花, hēidòuhuā) is a type of silken tofu made from black soybeans, which is usually made into dòuhuā (豆花) rather than firm or dry tofu. The texture of black bean tofu is slightly more gelatinous than regular douhua and the color is greyish in tone. This type of tofu is eaten for the earthy "black bean taste." Edamame tofu is a Japanese variety of kinugoshi tōfu made from edamame (fresh green soybeans); it is pale green in color and often studded with whole edamame.

 

FIRM TOFU

Firm tofu (called 老豆腐 lǎo dòufu in Chinese; 木綿豆腐, momen-dōfu in Japanese, lit. "cotton tofu"; 단단한두부, dandanhan dubu in Korean): Although drained and pressed, this form of fresh tofu still contains a great amount of moisture. It has the firmness of raw meat but bounces back readily when pressed. The texture of the inside of the tofu is similar to that of a firm custard. The skin of this form of tofu has the pattern of the muslin used to drain it and is slightly more resilient to damage than its inside. It can be picked up easily with chopsticks.

 

In some places in Japan, a very firm type of momen-dōfu is eaten, called ishi-dōfu (石豆腐; literally stone tofu) in parts of Ishikawa, or iwa-dōfu (岩豆腐; literally rock tofu) in Gokayama in the Toyama prefecture and in Iya in the prefecture of Tokushima. Due to their firmness, some of these types of tofu can be tied by rope and carried.[citation needed] These types of firm tofu are produced with seawater instead of nigari (magnesium chloride), or using concentrated soy milk. Some of them are squeezed of excess moisture using heavy weights. These products are produced in areas where travelling is inconvenient, such as remote islands, mountain villages, heavy snowfall areas, and so on.

 

EXTRA FIRM TOFU

Dòu gān (豆干, literally "dry tofu" in Chinese) is an extra firm variety of tofu where a large amount of liquid has been pressed out of the tofu. Dòu gān contains the least amount of moisture of all fresh tofu and has the firmness of fully cooked meat and a somewhat rubbery feel similar to that of paneer. When sliced thinly, this tofu can be crumbled easily. The skin of this form of tofu has the pattern of the muslin used to drain and press it. Western firm tofu is milled and reformed after the pressing and sometimes lacks the skin with its cloth patterning. One variety of dried tofu is pressed especially flat and sliced into long strings with a cross section smaller than 2 mm × 2 mm. Shredded dried tofu (豆干絲, dòugānsī in Chinese, or simply 干絲, gānsī), which looks like loose cooked noodles, can be served cold, stir-fried, or similar in style to Japanese aburaage.

 

PROCESSED TOFU

Many forms of processed tofu exist, due to the varied ways in which fresh tofu can be used. Some of these techniques probably[citation needed] originate from the need to preserve tofu before the days of refrigeration, or to increase its shelf life and longevity. Other production techniques are employed to create tofus with unique textures and flavors.

 

FERMENTED

Pickled tofu (豆腐乳 in Chinese, pinyin: dòufurǔ, lit. "tofu dairy," or 腐乳 fŭrŭ; chao in Vietnamese): Also called "preserved tofu" or "fermented tofu," this food consists of cubes of dried tofu that have been allowed to fully air-dry under hay and slowly ferment from aerial bacteria. The dry fermented tofu is then soaked in salt water, Chinese wine, vinegar, and minced chiles, or a unique mixture of whole rice, bean paste, and soybeans. In the case of red pickled tofu (紅豆腐乳 in Chinese, Pinyin: hóng dòufurǔ), red yeast rice (cultivated with Monascus purpureus) is added for color. And in Japan, pickled tofu with miso paste is called "tofu no misodzuke," which is a traditional preserved food in Kumamoto. In Okinawa, there is a pickled and fermented tofu called "tofuyo"(豆腐餻). It is made from "Shima-doufu" (an Okinawan variety of large and firm tofu). It is fermented, and matured with koji mold, red koji mold, and awamori.

 

Stinky tofu (臭豆腐 in Chinese, Pinyin: chòudòufu): A soft tofu that has been fermented in a unique vegetable and fish brine. The blocks of tofu smell strongly of certain pungent cheeses, and are described by many as rotten and fecal.[citation needed] Despite its strong odor, the flavor and texture of stinky tofu is appreciated by aficionados, who describe it as delightful. The texture of this tofu is similar to the soft Asian tofu from which it is made. The rind that stinky tofu develops from frying is said to be especially crisp, and is usually served with soy sauce, sweet sauce, or hot sauce.

 

DRIED TOFU

Two kinds of dried tofu are produced in Japan. They are usually rehydrated (by being soaked in water) prior to consumption. In their dehydrated state they do not require refrigeration.

 

FRIED

With the exception of the softest tofus, all forms of tofu can be fried. Thin and soft varieties of tofu are deep fried in oil until they are light and airy in their core 豆泡 dòupào, 豆腐泡 dòufupào, 油豆腐 yóudòufu, or 豆卜 dòubǔ in Chinese, literally "bean bubble," describing the shape of the fried tofu as a bubble).

Tofus such as firm Asian and dòu gān (Chinese dry tofu), with their lower moisture content, are cut into bite-sized cubes or triangles and deep fried until they develop a golden-brown, crispy surface (炸豆腐 in Chinese, zhádòufu, lit. "fried tofu"). These may be eaten on their own or with a light sauce, or further cooked in liquids; they are also added to hot pot dishes or included as part of the vegetarian dish called luohan zhai. This deep fried tofu is also called Atsuage (厚揚げ) or Namaage (生揚げ) in Japan. The thinner variety is called Aburaage (油揚げ) which develops a tofu pouch when fried that is often used for Inari-sushi.

 

FROZEN

Thousand layer tofu (千葉豆腐, 凍豆腐 dòngdòufu or 冰豆腐 bīngdòufu in Chinese, literally "thousand layer tofu" or "frozen tofu"): By freezing tofu, the large ice crystals that develop within the tofu result in the formation of large cavities that appear to be layered. The frozen tofu takes on a yellowish hue in the freezing process. Thousand layer tofu is commonly made at home from Asian soft tofu though it is also commercially sold as a specialty in parts of Taiwan. This tofu is defrosted, and sometimes pressed to remove moisture, prior to use.

 

Koya-dofu (kōya-dōfu, 高野豆腐 in Japanese): The name comes from Mount Koya, a center of Japanese Buddhism famed for its shōjin ryōri, or traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. It is sold in freeze-dried blocks or cubes in Japanese markets. Since it is dried, it can be preserved for long term. It must be soaked in water before eating, and is typically simmered in dashi, sake or mirin and soy sauce. In shōjin ryōri, vegetarian kombu dashi, made from seaweed, is used. When prepared in the usual manner, it has a spongy texture and mild sweet and savory flavor (the taste and flavor depend on what soup or cooking stock it was simmered in). A similar form of freeze-dried tofu, in smaller pieces, is found in instant soups (such as miso soup), in which the toppings are freeze-dried and stored in sealed pouches.

 

BYPRODUCTS OF TOFU PRODUCTION

Tofu production creates some edible byproducts. Food products are made from the protein-oil film, or "skin," which forms over the surface of boiling soy milk in an open shallow pan. The leftover solids from pressing soy milk are called okara.

 

TOFU SKIN

Tofu skin is produced through the boiling of soy milk, in an open shallow pan, thus producing a film or skin composed primarily of a soy protein-lipid complex on the liquid surface. The films are collected and dried into yellowish sheets known as soy milk skin (腐皮, fǔpí in Chinese; 湯葉, yuba in Japanese). Its approximate composition is : 50–55% protein, 24–26% lipids (fat), 12% carbohydrate, 3% ash, and 9% moisture.

 

The skin can also be bunched up to stick form and dried into something known as "tofu bamboo" (腐竹, fǔ zhú in Chinese; phù trúc in Vietnamese; kusatake, Japanese), or myriad other forms. Since tofu skin has a soft yet rubbery texture, it is folded or shaped into different forms and cooked further to imitate meat in vegan cuisine.

 

Some factories dedicate production to tofu skin and other soy membrane products.

 

OKARA

Okara (from the Japanese, おから, okara; known as 雪花菜, xuěhuācài, in Chinese, lit. "snowflake vegetable"; 豆腐渣, dòufuzhā, also Chinese, lit. "tofu sediment/residue"; and 콩비지, kongbiji, in Korean), is a tofu by-product, sometimes known in the west as "soy pulp" or "tofu lees", consisting of the fiber, protein, and starch left over when soy milk has been extracted from ground soaked soybeans. Although it is mainly used as animal feed in most tofu producing cultures, it is sometimes used in Japanese and Korean cuisines, such as in the Korean stew kongbiji jjigae (콩비지찌개). It is also an ingredient for vegetarian burgers produced in many western nations.

 

NON-TOFU "TOFUS"

Due to their Asian origins and their textures, many food items are called "tofu" even though their production processes are not technically similar. For instance, many sweet almond tofus are actually gelatinous desserts hardened using agar or gelatin. As well, some foods such as Burmese tofu are not coagulated from the "milk" of the legume but rather set in a manner similar to soft polenta, Korean muk, or the jidou liangfen of Yunnan province of Southwest China.

 

NON-TOFU SWEETS

The "almond tofu" (Chinese: 杏仁豆腐 xìngrén dòufu; Japanese: annindōfu) is a milky white and gelatinous resembling tofu, but does not use soy products or soy milk and is hardened with agar. A similar dessert made with coconut milk or mango juices might occasionally be referred to as "coconut tofu" or "mango tofu", though such names are also given to hot dishes that use soy tofu and coconut or mango in the recipe.

 

EGG TOFU

Egg tofu (ja) (Japanese: 玉子豆腐, 卵豆腐, tamagodōfu) (Chinese: 蛋豆腐, dàn dòufu; often called 日本豆腐, rìbĕn dòufu, lit. "Japan bean curd") is the main type of savory flavored tofu. Whole beaten eggs are combined with dashi, poured into molds, and steamed in a steamer (cf. chawanmushi). The tofu has a pale golden color that can be attributed to the addition of egg and, occasionally, food coloring. This tofu has a fuller texture and flavor than silken tofu, which can be attributed to the presence of egg fat and protein. Plain "dried tofu" can be flavored by stewing in soysauce (滷) to make soy-sauce tofu. It is quite common to see tofu sold in market in this soy-sauce stewed form.

 

SESAME TOFU

The goma-dōfu (ja) is made by grinding sesame into a smooth paste, combining with liquid and kudzu starch, and heating until curdling occurs. It is often served chilled as hiyayakko.

 

PEANUT TOFU

In Okinawa, Japan, the jīmāmi-dōfu (ja) is made in a process similar to the sesame tofu. A peanut milk (made by crushing raw peanuts, adding water and straining) is combined with starch (usually sweet potato starch known locally as umukuji　or umukashi (芋澱粉?)) and heating until curdling occurs.

 

The Chinese equivalent is the 落花生豆腐 luòhuāshēng dòufu.

 

BURMESE TOFU

Burmese tofu (to hpu in Burmese) is a type of legume product made from besan (chana dal) flour; the Shan variety uses yellow split pea flour instead. Both types are yellow in color and generally found only in Myanmar, though the Burman variety is also available in some overseas restaurants serving Burmese cuisine.

 

Burmese tofu may be fried as fritters cut in rectangular or triangular shapes. Rice tofu, called hsan to hpu (or hsan ta hpo in Shan regions) is made from rice flour (called hsan hmont or mont hmont) and is white in color, with the same consistency as yellow Burmese tofu when set. It is eaten as a salad in the same manner as yellow tofu.

 

PREPARATION

Tofu has very little flavor or smell on its own. Consequently, tofu can be prepared either in savory or sweet dishes, acting as a bland background for presenting the flavors of the other ingredients used. As a method of flavoring it is often marinated in soy sauce, chilis, sesame oil, etc.

 

EASTERN METHODS

In Asian cooking, tofu is eaten in myriad ways, including raw, stewed, stir-fried, in soup, cooked in sauce, or stuffed with fillings. The idea of using tofu as a meat substitute is not common in East Asia. Many Chinese tofu dishes such as jiācháng dòufu (家常豆腐) and mápó dòufú (麻婆豆腐) include meat.

 

LIGHTLY FLVORED

In Japan, a common lunch in the summer months is hiyayakko (冷奴), silken or firm Asian tofu served with freshly grated ginger, green onions, or katsuobushi shavings with soy sauce. In the winter, tofu is frequently eaten as "yudofu," which is simmered in a claypot with some vegetables (ex:chinese cabbage, green onion etc.) using konbu dashi.

 

In Chinese cuisine, Dòuhuā (豆花) is served with toppings such as boiled peanuts, azuki beans, cooked oatmeal, tapioca, mung beans and a syrup flavored with ginger or almond. During the summer, "dòuhuā" is served with crushed ice; in the winter, it is served warm. And also, in many parts of China, fresh tofu is similarly eaten with soy sauce or further flavored with katsuobushi shavings, century eggs (皮蛋 pídàn), and sesame seed oil.

 

In Korean cuisine, dubu gui (두부구이) consists of pan fried cubes of firm tofu, seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and other ingredients. Cubes of cold, uncooked firm tofu seasoned with soy sauce, scallions, and ginger, prepared in a manner similar to the Japanese hiyayakko, are also enjoyed. The popular bar food, or anju (안주), called dubu kimchi (두부김치), features boiled, firm tofu served in rectangular slices around the edges of a plate with pan fried, sautéed or freshly mixed kimchi (김치) in the middle.

 

In the Philippines, the sweet delicacy taho is made of fresh tofu with brown sugar syrup and sago. The Malaysian version of taho or douhua is called tofufa. Warm soft tofu is served in "slices" (due to being scooped using a flat spoon from a wooden bucket) in a bowl with either pandan-flavored sugar syrup or palm sugar syrup.

 

In Vietnam, dòuhuā is pronounced đậu hủ. This variety of soft tofu is made and carried around in an earthenware jar. It is served by being scooped into a bowl with a very shallow and flat spoon, and eaten with either powdered sugar and lime juice or with a ginger-flavored syrup. It is generally eaten hot, even during summer.

 

FRIED

A common cooking technique in many parts of East and Southeast Asia involves deep frying tofu in vegetable oil, sunflower oil, or canola oil with varied results. In Indonesia, it is usually fried in palm oil. Although tofu is often sold preprocessed into fried items, pre-fried tofu is seldom eaten directly and requires additional cooking. Depending on the type of tofu used, the texture of deep fried tofu may range from crispy on the outside and custardy on the inside, to puffed up like a plain doughnut. The former is usually eaten plain in Chinese cuisine with garlic soy sauce, while the latter is either stuffed with fish paste to make Yong Tau Foo or cooked in soups. In Taiwan, fried tofu is made into a dish called "A-gei", which consists of a fried aburage tofu package stuffed with noodles and capped with surimi.

 

In Japan, cubes of lightly coated and fried tofu topped with a kombu dashi-based sauce are called agedashi-dofu (揚げ出し豆腐). Soft tofu that has been thinly sliced and deep fried, known as aburage in Japan and yubu (유부) in Korea, is commonly blanched, seasoned with soy sauce and mirin and served in dishes such as kitsune udon. Aburage is sometimes also cut open to form a pocket and stuffed with sushi rice; this dish is called inarizushi (稲荷寿司) and is also popular in Korea, where it is called yubu chobap (유부초밥). In Indonesia, tofu is called tahu, and the popular fried tofu is tahu goreng, tahu isi and tahu sumedang.

 

SOUPS, STEWS, AND BRAISED DISHES

A spicy Sichuan preparation using firm Asian tofu is mápó dòufu (麻婆豆腐). This involves braised tofu in a beef, chili, and a fermented bean paste sauce. A vegetarian version is known as málà dòufu (麻辣豆腐)[citation needed].

 

Dried tofu is usually not eaten raw but first stewed in a mixture of soy sauce and spices.[citation needed] Some types of dried tofu are pre-seasoned with special blends of spices, so that the tofu may either be called "five spice tofu" (五香豆腐 wǔxiāng dòufu) or "soy sauce stewed tofu" (鹵水豆腐 lǔshuǐ dòufu). Dried tofu is typically served thinly sliced with chopped green onions or with slices of meat for added flavor. Most dried tofu is sold after it has been fried or pre-stewed by tofu vendors.

 

Soft tofu can also be broken up or mashed and mixed with raw ingredients prior to being cooked. For example, Japanese ganmodoki is a mixture of chopped vegetables and mashed tofu. The mixture is bound together with starch and deep fried. Chinese families sometimes make a steamed meatloaf or meatball dish from equal parts of coarsely mashed tofu and ground pork. In India, tofu is also used as a low fat replacement for paneer providing the same texture with similar taste.

 

Tofu bamboos are often used in lamb stew or in a dessert soup. Tofu skins are often used as wrappers in dim sum. Freeze-dried tofu and frozen tofu are rehydrated and enjoyed in savory soups. These products are often taken along on camping trips since a small bag of these dried tofu can provide protein for many days.

 

Japanese 'miso soup', stocks with miso paste, is frequently made with tofu.

 

In Korean cuisine, soft tofu, called sundubu (순두부), is used to make a thick stew called sundubu jjigae (순두부 찌개). Firm, diced tofu often features in the staple stews doenjang jjigae (된장 찌개) and kimchi jjigae (김치

찌개).

 

SMOKED

At Qufu, the home town of Confucius, smoked tofu is a popular dish.

 

BACEM

Bacem is a method of cooking tofu originating from Java, Indonesia. The tofu is boiled in coconut water, mixed with lengkuas (galangal), Indonesian bay leaves, coriander, shallot, garlic, tamarind and palm sugar. After the spicy coconut water has completely evaporated, the tofu is fried until it is golden brown. The result is sweet, spicy, and crisp. This cooked tofu variant is commonly known as tahu bacem in Indonesian. Tahu bacem is commonly prepared along with tempeh and chicken.

 

AS FLAVORING

Pickled tofu is commonly used in small amounts together with its soaking liquid to flavor stir-fried or braised vegetable dishes (particularly leafy green vegetables like water spinach). It is often eaten directly as a condiment with rice or congee.

 

WESTERN METHODS

Generally, the firmer styles of tofu are used for kebabs, mock meats, and dishes requiring a consistency that holds together, while the softer styles can be used for desserts, soups, shakes, and sauces.

 

Firm western tofus can be barbecued since they will hold together on a barbecue grill. These types of tofu are usually marinated overnight as the marinade does not easily penetrate the entire block of tofu (techniques to increase penetration of marinades are stabbing repeatedly with a fork or freezing and thawing prior to marinating). Grated firm western tofu is sometimes used in conjunction with TVP as a meat substitute. Softer tofus are sometimes used as a dairy-free or low-calorie filler. Silken tofu may be used to replace cheese in certain dishes (such as lasagna).

 

Tofu has also been fused into other cuisines in the west, for instance used in Indian-style curries.

 

Tofu and soy protein can be industrially processed to match the textures and flavors to the likes of cheese, pudding, eggs, bacon, etc. Tofu's texture can also be altered by freezing, pureeing, and cooking. In the Americas, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, tofu is frequently associated with vegetarianism and veganism as it is a source of non-animal protein.

 

THREE THEORIES OF ORIGIN

The most commonly held of the three theories of tofu's origin maintains that tofu was invented in northern China around 164 BC by Lord Liu An, a Han Dynasty prince. Although this is possible, the paucity of concrete information about this period makes it difficult to conclusively determine whether Liu An invented the method for making tofu. Furthermore, in Chinese history, important inventions were often attributed to important leaders and figures of the time. In 1960, a stone mural unearthed from an Eastern Han dynasty tomb provided support for the theory of Han origin of tofu, however some scholars maintained that the tofu in Han dynasty was rudimentary, and lacked the firmness and taste of real tofu.

 

Another theory states that the production method for tofu was discovered accidentally when a slurry of boiled, ground soybeans was mixed with impure sea salt. Such sea salt would probably have contained calcium and magnesium salts, allowing the soy mixture to curdle and produce a tofu-like gel. This may have possibly been the way that tofu was discovered, since soy milk has been eaten as a savory soup in ancient as well as modern times. Its technical plausibility notwithstanding, there is little evidence to prove or disprove that tofu production originated in this way.

 

The last group of theories maintains that the ancient Chinese learned the method for the curdling of soy milk by emulating the milk curdling techniques of the Mongolians or East Indians. For, despite their advancement, no technology or knowledge of culturing and processing milk products existed within ancient Chinese society. (They did not seek such technology, probably because of the Confucian taboo on fermented dairy products and other so-called "barbarian foodstuffs".) The primary evidence for this theory lies with the etymological similarity between the Chinese term for Mongolian fermented milk (rufu, which literally means "milk curdled") and the term doufu ("beans curdled") or tofu. Although intriguing and possible, there is no evidence to substantiate this theory beyond the point of academic speculation.

 

HISTORY

IN ASIA

Tofu originated in ancient China, although little else is known about the exact historic origins of tofu and of its method of production.

 

The theory that tofu was invented by Lord Liu An of Huainan in about 164 BC (early Han dynasty) has steadily lost favor among most scholars in China and abroad since the 1970s. The claim concerning Liu An was first made by Zhu Xi during the Song dynasty (960-1127 AD) - roughly 1,000 years after the supposed invention.

 

The theory that tofu-making is shown in a mural incised on a stone slab in Han Tomb No. 1, at Da-hu-ting, Mixian, Henan province attracted much attention after about 1990. Yet it too has lost favor because (1) no step of cooking the soy puree is shown in the mural, and (2) when Chinese food historians tried to make tofu without cooking the puree, the result was a tiny amount of unpalatable material.

 

Thus, while there are many theories regarding tofu's origins, historical information is scarce enough as to relegate the status of most theories to either speculation or legend. Like the origins of cheese and butter, the exact origin of tofu production may never be known or proven. The historical era starts in the year 965 AD (early Song dynasty) with the Qing Yilu by Tao Ku.

 

What is known is that tofu production is an ancient technique. Tofu was widely consumed in ancient China, and techniques for its production and preparation were eventually spread to many other parts of Asia.

 

Its development likely preceded Liu An, as tofu is known to have been a commonly produced and consumed food item in China by the 2nd century BC. Although the varieties of tofu produced in ancient times may not have been identical to those of today, descriptions from writings and poetry of the Song and Yuan Dynasty show that the production technique for tofu had already been standardized by then, to the extent that they would be similar to tofu of contemporary times.

 

In China, tofu is traditionally used as a food offering when visiting the graves of deceased relatives. It is claimed that the spirits (or ghosts) have long lost their chins and jaws, and that only tofu is soft enough for them to eat. Before refrigeration was available in China, tofu was often only sold during the winter time, due to the tofu not spoiling in the colder weather. During the warmer months, any leftover tofu would be spoiled if left for more than a day. Chinese war hero Guan Yu used to be a tofu maker before he enlisted in the army. Chinese martial arts expert and hero, Yim Wing-chun, was a celebrated tofu maker in her village. (Tofu as such plays a part in the 1994 movie about her life, Wing Chun.)

 

Tofu and its production technique were subsequently introduced into Korea and then Japan in the Nara period (late 8th century) as well as other parts of East Asia. The earliest document of tofu in Japan shows that the dish was served as an offering at the Kasuga Shrine in Nara in 1183. The book Tofu Hyakuchin (豆腐百珍 Dòufu Bǎizhēn), published in the Edo period, lists 100 recipes for cooking tofu.

 

The rise in acceptance of tofu likely coincided with that of Buddhism as it is an important source of proteins in the religion's vegetarian diet. Since then, tofu has become a staple in many countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Korea, with subtle regional variations in production methods, texture, flavor, and usage.

 

In Southeast Asia, tofu was introduced to the region by Chinese immigrants from sea-faring Fujian province, evident from the fact that many countries in Southeast Asia refer to tofu by the Min Nan Chinese pronunciations for either soft and firm tofu, or "tāu-hū" and "tāu-goan" respectively. In Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, tofu is widely available and used in many local dishes. Tofu is called tahu in Indonesia, Indonesian dishes such as, tahu sumbat, taoge tahu, asinan, siomay and some curries, are often add slices of tofu as ingredients. In addition, tahu goreng, tahu isi and tahu sumedang are the popular fried tofu snacks. Tofu is called tauhu in Malaysia and Singapore. The Malaysian and Singaporean Indians use tofu in their cuisine such as Indian mee goreng, rojak pasembor. The strait peranakan cuisine often uses tofu, such as mee kari Penang, and laksa. The makers of tofu in these countries were originally the Chinese but tofu now is made by non-Chinese as well. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines are major producers of tofu and have plants located within many municipalities. However, Singapore imports its tofu from its neighboring country, Malaysia.

 

Tofu in the Philippines is essential to the daily diet, as taho, widely eaten as breakfast, or tokwa (a dry fried variation), which is a staple or alternative to meat in main meals, and in numerous regional dishes. Tofu was introduced to the archipelago in the 10th to 13th centuries by Song Chinese mariners and merchants, along with many different foods which had become staples of the Philippine diet. The use and production of tofu were first limited to urban centers with influential Chinese minorities, such as Cebu or Tondo, but were quickly spread to even remote native villages and islands, long before the Spanish arrival in the 17th century.

 

IN THE WEST

Benjamin Franklin was the first American to mention tofu in a 1770 letter to John Bartram. Franklin, who discovered it during a trip to London, included a few soybeans and referred to it as "cheese" from China. The first tofu company in the United States was established in 1878. In 1908 Li Yuying, a Chinese anarchist and a vegetarian with a French degree in agriculture and biology, opened a soy factory, the Usine de la Caséo-Sojaïne, which was the world's first soy dairy and the first factory in France to manufacture and sell beancurd. However tofu was not well known to most Westerners before the middle of the 20th century. With increased cultural contact between the West and East Asia and growing interest in vegetarianism, knowledge of tofu has become widespread. Numerous types of pre-flavored tofu can be found in many supermarket chains throughout the West. It is also used by many vegans and vegetarians as a means to gain protein without the consumption of meat products.

 

NUTRITION AND CHINESE MEDICINE CLAIMS

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE CLAIMS

Tofu is considered a cool agent in Traditional Chinese medicine. It is claimed to invigorate the spleen, replenish qi, moisture and cool off Yang vacuity, and to detoxify the body. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting neither such claims, nor their implied notions.

 

FUNCTIONS

In Chinese traditional medicine, tofu is suitable for those who are weak, malnourished, deficient in blood and qi; is suitable for old, slim or otherwise; suitable for those with high fat content in blood, high cholesterol, overweight, and with hardened blood vessels; suitable for people with diabetes; for mothers with low breast milk supply; for children and young adults; for those with inflamed respiratory tract, with phlegm, coughing and asthma. Tofu is also suited for people of old age; it is recommended to eat with liquor, since tofu contains cysteine, which can speed up the detoxification of alcohol in the body, and lessen the harm done to the liver, protecting the liver.

 

PROTEIN

Tofu is relatively high in protein, about 10.7% for firm tofu and 5.3% for soft "silken" tofu with about 5% and 2% fat respectively as a percentage of weight.

 

In 1995, a report from the University of Kentucky, financed by Solae, concluded that soy protein is correlated with significant decreases in serum cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein LDL (″bad cholesterol″) and triglyceride concentrations. However, High Density Lipoprotein HDL (″good cholesterol″) did not increase. Soy phytoestrogens (isoflavones: genistein and daidzein) absorbed onto the soy protein were suggested as the agent reducing serum cholesterol levels. On the basis of this research, PTI, in 1998, filed a petition with Food and Drug Administration for a health claim that soy protein may reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.

 

The FDA granted this health claim for soy: "25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease." For reference, 100 grams of firm tofu coagulated with calcium sulfate contains 8.19 grams of soy protein. In January 2006, an American Heart Association review (in the journal Circulation) of a decade-long study of soy protein benefits showed only a minimal decrease in cholesterol levels, but it compared favorably against animal protein sources.

 

ALLERGIES

Because it is made of soy, individuals with allergies, particularly those allergic to legumes, should not consume tofu.

 

WIKIPEDIA

A chemical substance, biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria), antimicrobial, disinfectant are all classified as a Pesticide. Insects, plant pathogens, weeds, molluscs, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms) and microbes that compete with humans for food, destroy property, spread or are a vector for disease are considered as Pests.

 

Although there are benefits to the use of pesticides, there are also serious drawbacks, potential toxicity to humans themselves and also to animals.

 

A systemic pesticide following absorption by the plant, acts inside. With insecticides and most fungicides, this movement is usually upward (through the xylem) and outward. Increased efficiency may be a result. But the Systemic insecticides which poison pollen and nectar in the flowers may kill needed pollinators such as bees too.

 

Pesticides can present danger to consumers, bystanders, or workers during manufacture, transport, or during and after use. Considering the results regarding the long-term effects of low-dose pesticide exposures. Current surveillance systems are inadequate to characterize potential exposure problems related either to pesticide usage or pesticide-related illnesses…Considering these data gaps, it is prudent…to limit pesticide exposures…and to use the least toxic chemical pesticide or non-chemical alternative.

 

Many of these compounds are associated with acute health problems for workers that handle the chemicals, such as abdominal pain, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, as well as skin and eye problems. Additionally, many studies have indicated that pesticide exposure is associated with long-term health problems such as respiratory problems, memory disorders, dermatologic conditions,cancer,depression, neurological deficits, miscarriages, and birth defects.

 

In India, traditional pest control methods include using PanchaGavya, the "mixture of five products."(Sanskrit origin) The method has recently experienced a resurgence in popularity due in part to use by the organic farming community. Panchakavya is a concoction prepared by mixing five products of cow. The three direct constituents are cow dung, urine, and milk; the two derived products are curd and ghee. These are mixed in proper ratio and then allowed to ferment.

 

The mixture which is made using yeast as a fermenter, bananas, groundnut cake, and the water of tender coconut, is a potent organic pesticide and growth promoter.

 

In recent years Panchakavya has found a prominent position in the context of organic farming in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also employed in the State of Kerala, which has embraced the organic agriculture movement fully.

 

A new class of fungicides paldoxins is another promising compound. These work by taking advantage of natural defense chemicals released by plants called phytoalexins, which fungi then detoxify using enzymes. The paldoxins inhibit the fungi's detoxification enzymes. They are believed to be safer and greener.Ref:( EurekAlert. (2009). New 'green' pesticides are first to exploit plant defenses in battle of the fungi.)

Wir alle sehnen uns nach den Frühling und haben genug vom Schnee. Die Sonnenblume ist für mich ein Sinnbild für Glück und Schönheit. In der Volkmedizin wird das Sonnenblumenöl zur Entgiftung des Körpers verwendet. Diese schöne Sonnenblume fotografierte ich direkt vor der Haustüre in der fränkischen Schweiz. Viel Spaß beim betrachten.

We all yearn for the spring and have had enough of snow. The sunflower is for me a symbol of happiness and beauty. In folk medicine, the sunflower is used for detoxification of the body. This beautiful sunflower I photographed in front of the door in the Franconian Switzerland. Have fun look.

我们都渴望春天和已经受够了雪。向日葵是我的幸福和美丽的象征。在民间医药的向日葵是用于身体排毒。这个美丽的向日葵我的门前拍摄的法兰克瑞士。玩得开心看看。

نحن جميعا نتوق لفصل الربيع ، وكان لها ما يكفي من الثلوج. وعباد الشمس هو بالنسبة لي رمزا من السعادة والجمال. في الطب الشعبي ، وعباد الشمس ويستخدم لإزالة السموم من الجسم. هذا عباد الشمس الجميلة صورت أمام الباب في سويسرا الفرانكونية. متعة النظر

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Levels range from beginners to seasoned vets. Not to mention, we do it with a bit of style. Not only do we include team t-shirts as a part of the registration fee, we love to rock in our socks to music! Yup, we crank up the volume when the whistle blows so everyone can get hyped before they play and groove while they play

     

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Sun Salutation (Ashtanga Surya Namaskara)

  

My Experience of Chhath

I am a permanent resident of Kolkata, but I never witnessed the celebration of Chhath Pooja here. Lakhs of migrant residents from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states of India and Nepal as well, celebrated their most ancient festival along the bank of river Hoogly, the sacred river that flows through the city. On 6th November this year, around 2pm, I went to a famous ghat on the bank of river Hoogly opposite to Eden gardens. It was an unique photographic journey to witness how people performed their rituals with so much devotion and faith. I saw hundreds of devotees sitting on the banks quietly with their offerings to Sun God and some performing their rituals with half of their bodies immersed in the Ganges, and some with fire, called ‘Homas’. I was closely looking at them, and I was amazed by their dedication, devotion and complacency. Thousands of devotees were found proceeding towards the Ganges with their offerings, all cladded in bright clothes and ornaments, and many were found on their way to lay prone on the roads touching their whole body (Ashtanga or eight parts of the body) on the Earth and performing ‘Dondis’(Surya Namaskara -Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार, Sun Salutation). Many of the family members, including newborn kids were found lying on the roads waiting for the main worshipper of the family to crossover their bodies as a way to get blessings from them. Most of the main family worshippers were found to be the eldest ladies of the family. Through Chhath, I rediscovered my religious India, in a new and beautiful way.

  

Chhath Pooja

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival of worshiping Sun God, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.Historically it is native to eastern Uttar Pradesh, North Bihar of India and Mithila State of Nepal.The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.The God is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is also believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. Environmentalists claim that Chhath is the most eco-friendly Hindu festival.

 

Regions Celebrating Chhath

Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal,Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP, it is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, as well in various countries worldwide.

 

Timings

Chhath puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in Bengali calender. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian English Calendar.

  

History

The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites. It is assumed that the oldest Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional pooja of the Lord Sun. They used to chant the ancient Rigveda texts and a variety of hymns for worshiping the God. In the ancient time of Mahabharata Chhath pooja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandavas of Hastinapur (present Delhi) for solving their instant problem and regaining their lost kingdom. It is also assumed that the Chhath puja was first started by the Surya Putra (son of Sun God) Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during the Mahabharata period.

 

Ethymology

The word chhath means sixth in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri languages and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.

The Goddess who is also worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the beloved younger wife of Surya, the sun god. The rituals signify rising sun as well as setting sun.

 

Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja

It is believed that worshipers of the Chhath take holy bath and follows a period of abstinence and become separate for 4 days from the main family. Throughout the period he is believed as the pure spirit and sleep on the floor having single blanket.

Devotees offer prasad to Sun at the Chhath such as sweets, Kheer, Thekua, bananas and other fruits included in a small bamboo tokari. The prasad is cooked without salt, onions or garlic with maintained purity. It is a four days festival which includes:

On the first day, devotees take bathe early in the morning in the holy water of Gange and bring some holy water to their home to prepare the offerings. The home and its surroundings should be cleaned at this day. They take only one meal a day known as kaddu-bhat cooked only by using the bronze or soil utensils and mango woods over the soil stove.

On the second day, the day before Chhath, devotees keeps fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after sunset after the worship of Sun. They offer Rasiao-kheer, puris, fruits in the puja. After taking meal in the evening, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours.

On the third day (day of Chhath) they offer the Sanjhiya Arghya at the ghat of riverbank. After Arghya, they wear the single saree of turmeric color. Other family members are waiting for getting the blessings from worshiper. At the night of Chhath a vibrant event of Kosi is celebrated by lighting the lamps of clay diyas under the covering of five sugarcane sticks. The five sugarcane sticks indicate the Panchatattva (earth, water, fire, air and space) the human is body made up of.

On the early morning of the fourth day (Paarun), devotees along with their family and friends offer Bihaniya Aragh at the ghat of riverbank of Gange. Devotees end their festival through breaking the fast by having the Chhath prashad.

 

Six levels of purification in Chhath ( a belief)

The belief of fast and cleanliness of body on the festival identify the detoxification of the body and mind in order to set up the body and mind to accept the cosmic solar energy.

Standing in water with half of the body inside the water diminishes the escape of energy as well as facilitates the prana to elevate to the sushumna.

Then the entrance of cosmic solar energy takes place in the pineal gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus (known as the Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

In the 4th stage Triveni complex gets activated.

After activation of the Triveni complex, spine gets polarized and body of devotee gets transformed into a cosmic powerhouse and gets the Kundalini Shakti.

At this stage the devotee is fully able to conduct, recycle and pass on the energy into entire universe.

  

Benefits of the rituals (a belief)

Devotee of the Chhath puja can improve the immunity of body.

A variety of skin infections can be cured through the safe radiations of sunlight.

It increases the fighting power of blood by improving the performance of WBC.

Solar energy provides the power to control the secretion of hormones.

 

Significance

Chhath puja has a special significance during the Sunrise and Sunset periods. The Sunrise and sunset are the most important periods of the day during which a human body can safely get the solar energy without any harm. That’s why there is a myth of offering the Sanjhiya Arghya and Bihaniya Arghya to the Sun at the Chhath festival. During this period the solar energy has low level of ultraviolet radiations so it is safe for the human body. People perform the Chhath puja in order to thank the Lord Sun for the lives on the earth as well as to get blessings.

The ritual of Chhath puja provides mental calmness (by detoxifying the body and mind), enhances the energy level and immunity, reduces the frequency of anger, greed and jealousy as well as lot of negative emotions. It is also believed that following the Chhath processes helps in slowing down the ageing process. Such beliefs and rituals of the Chhath make it the most significant festival in the Hindus ever.

 

[ Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath and www.varanasi.org.in/chhath-pooja ]

 

65th & Blackstone, Chicago

At Yaksheetasri.com, experience a feeling of healing and pampering with a blend of relaxation and rejuvenation in the exotic ambiance imparting a sense of tranquility, peace and calm. Humans need touch and touch is a powerful healer. For thousands of years, many cultures have practiced some form of massage with the aim of easing physical, mental and spiritual aliment. We at Yaksheetasri.com, welcome you to undertake the journey within, through powerful and magical touch.

Choose from an intelligent mix of exotic treatments, traditional massages, detoxification, reflexology, scrubs, wraps, signature facials, hair spa, foot spa and the most indispensable dental spa, to let go your stress, completely beautify your body and unchain the abundant energy within you. The entire range of treatments/rituals has also been grouped into a variety of packages to suit your convenience, desires and precious time.

At Yaksheetasri.com, the team of masseurs/masseuse comprises of handpicked experts from all field of massages and treatments with ample experience. In today’s fast paced individualistic world with huge scarcity of time and energy, come to Yaksheetasri.com and find yourself and the abundant energy within you. Yaksheetasri Spa's treatments have been carefully designed to energize your body, mind and soul. The treatments have been customized depending on the location, by keeping in mind the guest's needs. An airport spa would incorporate express treatments keeping in mind, the traveler's limited time.

Whether it is an express Spa & Salon with a selected few treatments or a complex set-up with exotic features and a wide array of spa services, Yaksheetasri Spa has a complete solution for hospitality organization. With in-house design, training, product development, marketing and management capabilities, Yaksheetasri Spa can offer individual solutions from green field projects to complete spa management of existing facilities.

Yaksheetasri Spa is only leading "Premium Class" Chennai spa chain in existence. We have transformed a first class upscale Chennai Massage & spa concept in to a successful spa wonderland. This has turned out as a perfect gift for passengers who are on- the-go. Our spas are designed to encourage tranquility and well-being. We use warm earth tones of wenge & beige, world class leather seating, wooden floors, gentle indirect lighting and soothing background music to create a relaxing environment that attracts women’s only.

Additionally, Yaksheetasri Spa has developed numerous innovative spa practices that enhance the airport spa experience. We are very proud to have revolutionized the way to operate a spa, while having created the most relaxing destination in Chennai. In the past couple of years, Yaksheetasri Spa single-handedly transformed Indian Chennai concessions by turning spas into a must-have for any major are in Chennai.

Foot Reflexology

Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way.

Neck & Back Massage

A massage is the most basic of all healing techniques. Studies indicate that this touch therapy reduces stress, depression, lessen pain and boost the immune system. A back massage is the most preferred massage treatment as poor spine, postural defects and sleeping disorders are effectively addressed through this simple, nurturing and powerful touch therapy.

Swedish Massage

Swedish body massage is the original massage technique involving a sequence of movements working superficially and deeper into the tissue layers. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Massage helps in flushing the tissues of harmful deposits such as lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes . Swedish massage also stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable, and stimulates the skin and sooth the nervous system at the same time. As a treatment it helps reduce stress, both emotional and physical, and is often suggested in a program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

Balinese Massage

A Balinese massage uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure. Aroma oils used in the massage stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and energy around your body, and bring deep relaxation and wellness. Massage is a rigorous and luxurious spa treatment and a great one to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, relax and feel spiritually renewed at the same time. Balinese massage is related to the ancient Ayurveda, the Indian holistic medical system.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is an ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing by the use of plants and their parts. The roots, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds and nuts play a crucial part in this massage. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing and overall relaxation and wellbeing.

Thai Massage

Thai massage is an ancient healing art. Through application of pressure on energy lines and points, and a vast array of passive stretching movements performed with the hands, feet, knees and elbows, the body experiences profound relaxation, peripheral stimulation of internal organs, increased flexibility and increased flow of energy. Thai massage is that you get the flexibility, inner organ massage, oxygenation of the blood and quieting of the mind that is attained with yoga. Through deep muscle stretching, joint release and emphasis on breath, Thai massage offers many of the same benefits as yoga.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a particularly effective massage for people with muscular pain. Massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the oxygen flow around your body. This gets rid of toxins in very sore and strained muscles, which helps them to strengthen and heal. Deep tissue massage is often used to treat people who are recovering from accidents, and for sports injuries as it increases blood circulation in muscles that are underused, relieves chronic muscle tension throughout the body, and can also break down scar tissue and "knots" deep in the muscles.

Ayurveda Massage

According to Ayurveda each individual is a combination of the 3 doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. These 3 govern the metabolic activity in an individual. The detoxification methods like panchakarma and other health remedies ( herbal) when applied wholly/singly make the body, more responsive to medicines thereby hastening the healing process. Various yogasanas achieve, the twin propose of strengthening the body, vital organs like heart, liver etc. as well as keep the physical and psychological condition strong. Not only do the herbal remedies play an important role in internal health and well being but also external health and beauty which is quite evident from the overall appearance.

One of the most important reasons for increasing use of Ayurveda in beauty and skin care is that this system can clearly bring out a youthful clear skin in conjunction with happiness and relaxation which otherwise can’t be achieved by cosmetics. A well regulated lifestyle along with suggesting a discerning diet according to ones doshas will go a long way to strengthen ones natural immune system. Ayurveda is perhaps the first such system that recognises that all diseases are, but the direct manifestations of one’s mental conditions. Any disturbance in the 3 states of human mind (Trigunas) namely Satwa, Rajas as and Tamas manifests in the form of physical illness.

 

Όλα τα φρούτα είναι εξαιρετικά μέσα για την αποτοξίνωση του σώματος. Διάφοροι τύποι έχουν διαφορετικές θεραπευτικές ιδιότητες (διαβάστε περισσότερα... www.loukoulos.com/2012/03/φρούτα-τα-εξαιρε

At Yaksheetasri.com, experience a feeling of healing and pampering with a blend of relaxation and rejuvenation in the exotic ambiance imparting a sense of tranquility, peace and calm. Humans need touch and touch is a powerful healer. For thousands of years, many cultures have practiced some form of massage with the aim of easing physical, mental and spiritual aliment. We at Yaksheetasri.com, welcome you to undertake the journey within, through powerful and magical touch.

Choose from an intelligent mix of exotic treatments, traditional massages, detoxification, reflexology, scrubs, wraps, signature facials, hair spa, foot spa and the most indispensable dental spa, to let go your stress, completely beautify your body and unchain the abundant energy within you. The entire range of treatments/rituals has also been grouped into a variety of packages to suit your convenience, desires and precious time.

At Yaksheetasri.com, the team of masseurs/masseuse comprises of handpicked experts from all field of massages and treatments with ample experience. In today’s fast paced individualistic world with huge scarcity of time and energy, come to Yaksheetasri.com and find yourself and the abundant energy within you. Yaksheetasri Spa's treatments have been carefully designed to energize your body, mind and soul. The treatments have been customized depending on the location, by keeping in mind the guest's needs. An airport spa would incorporate express treatments keeping in mind, the traveler's limited time.

Whether it is an express Spa & Salon with a selected few treatments or a complex set-up with exotic features and a wide array of spa services, Yaksheetasri Spa has a complete solution for hospitality organization. With in-house design, training, product development, marketing and management capabilities, Yaksheetasri Spa can offer individual solutions from green field projects to complete spa management of existing facilities.

Yaksheetasri Spa is only leading "Premium Class" Chennai spa chain in existence. We have transformed a first class upscale Chennai Massage & spa concept in to a successful spa wonderland. This has turned out as a perfect gift for passengers who are on- the-go. Our spas are designed to encourage tranquility and well-being. We use warm earth tones of wenge & beige, world class leather seating, wooden floors, gentle indirect lighting and soothing background music to create a relaxing environment that attracts women’s only.

Additionally, Yaksheetasri Spa has developed numerous innovative spa practices that enhance the airport spa experience. We are very proud to have revolutionized the way to operate a spa, while having created the most relaxing destination in Chennai. In the past couple of years, Yaksheetasri Spa single-handedly transformed Indian Chennai concessions by turning spas into a must-have for any major are in Chennai.

Foot Reflexology

Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way.

Neck & Back Massage

A massage is the most basic of all healing techniques. Studies indicate that this touch therapy reduces stress, depression, lessen pain and boost the immune system. A back massage is the most preferred massage treatment as poor spine, postural defects and sleeping disorders are effectively addressed through this simple, nurturing and powerful touch therapy.

Swedish Massage

Swedish body massage is the original massage technique involving a sequence of movements working superficially and deeper into the tissue layers. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Massage helps in flushing the tissues of harmful deposits such as lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes . Swedish massage also stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable, and stimulates the skin and sooth the nervous system at the same time. As a treatment it helps reduce stress, both emotional and physical, and is often suggested in a program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

Balinese Massage

A Balinese massage uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure. Aroma oils used in the massage stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and energy around your body, and bring deep relaxation and wellness. Massage is a rigorous and luxurious spa treatment and a great one to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, relax and feel spiritually renewed at the same time. Balinese massage is related to the ancient Ayurveda, the Indian holistic medical system.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is an ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing by the use of plants and their parts. The roots, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds and nuts play a crucial part in this massage. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing and overall relaxation and wellbeing.

Thai Massage

Thai massage is an ancient healing art. Through application of pressure on energy lines and points, and a vast array of passive stretching movements performed with the hands, feet, knees and elbows, the body experiences profound relaxation, peripheral stimulation of internal organs, increased flexibility and increased flow of energy. Thai massage is that you get the flexibility, inner organ massage, oxygenation of the blood and quieting of the mind that is attained with yoga. Through deep muscle stretching, joint release and emphasis on breath, Thai massage offers many of the same benefits as yoga.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a particularly effective massage for people with muscular pain. Massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the oxygen flow around your body. This gets rid of toxins in very sore and strained muscles, which helps them to strengthen and heal. Deep tissue massage is often used to treat people who are recovering from accidents, and for sports injuries as it increases blood circulation in muscles that are underused, relieves chronic muscle tension throughout the body, and can also break down scar tissue and "knots" deep in the muscles.

Ayurveda Massage

According to Ayurveda each individual is a combination of the 3 doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. These 3 govern the metabolic activity in an individual. The detoxification methods like panchakarma and other health remedies ( herbal) when applied wholly/singly make the body, more responsive to medicines thereby hastening the healing process. Various yogasanas achieve, the twin propose of strengthening the body, vital organs like heart, liver etc. as well as keep the physical and psychological condition strong. Not only do the herbal remedies play an important role in internal health and well being but also external health and beauty which is quite evident from the overall appearance.

One of the most important reasons for increasing use of Ayurveda in beauty and skin care is that this system can clearly bring out a youthful clear skin in conjunction with happiness and relaxation which otherwise can’t be achieved by cosmetics. A well regulated lifestyle along with suggesting a discerning diet according to ones doshas will go a long way to strengthen ones natural immune system. Ayurveda is perhaps the first such system that recognises that all diseases are, but the direct manifestations of one’s mental conditions. Any disturbance in the 3 states of human mind (Trigunas) namely Satwa, Rajas as and Tamas manifests in the form of physical illness.

 

Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada, and is common in many different habitats. It flies from spring until fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae. P. glaucus has a wingspan measuring 7.9 to 14 cm (3.1 to 5.5 in). The male is yellow with four black "tiger stripes" on each forewing. Females may be either yellow or black, making them dimorphic. The yellow morph is similar to the male, but with a conspicuous band of blue spots along the hindwing, while the dark morph is almost completely black.

 

The green eggs are laid singly on plants of the families Magnoliaceae and Rosaceae. Young caterpillars are brown and white; older ones are green with two black, yellow, and blue eyespots on the thorax. The caterpillar will turn brown prior to pupating. It will reach a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in). The chrysalis varies from a whitish color to dark brown. Hibernation occurs in this stage in locations with cold winter months.

 

The eastern tiger swallowtail is the state butterfly of Alabama (as well as state mascot), Delaware, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and is the state insect of Virginia.

 

Description

The wingspan ranges from 7.9 to 14 cm (3.1 to 5.5 in) with females being the larger sex. Southern individuals are larger than northern ones. Males are yellow with four black "tiger stripes" on each forewing. The outer edge of the forewing is black with a row of yellow spots. The veins are marked with black. The postmedian area of the hindwing is black with yellow spots along the margin. The inner margin of the hindwing has small red and blue spots. The ventral forewing margin has a yellow bar that is broken into spots. This broken bar is present in both sexes, and is used to distinguish P. glaucus from its close relatives.

 

Females are dimorphic. The yellow morph differs from the male in having a blue postmedian area on the dorsal hindwing. In the dark morph, the areas that are normally yellow are replaced with dark gray or black. The bluish postmedian area on the ventral hindwing has one row of orange spots. A shadow of the "tiger stripes" can be seen on the underside of some dark females.

 

P. glaucus is one of a few species of papilionids known to produce gynandromorphs. Most bilateral gynandromorphs are hybrids of P. glaucus and P. canadensis that are found along hybrid zones. Color mosaics are found in the central part of the species range.

 

Taxonomy

The first known drawing of a North American butterfly was of an eastern tiger swallowtail. It was drawn by John White in 1587, during Sir Walter Raleigh's third expedition to Virginia. White named his drawing "Mamankanois" which is believed to be a Carolina Algonquian word for "butterfly". This species was later described by Carl Linnaeus in his 10th edition of Systema Naturae in 1758. Some taxonomists place P. glaucus, along with the other tiger swallowtails, in the genus Pterourus.

 

The eastern tiger swallowtail was formerly considered a single species with a vast range into northern Canada and the eastern United States. In 1991, the subspecies Papilio glaucus canadensis was elevated to species level, thus reducing the range of P. glaucus to south of Canada. In 2002, another closely related species, P. appalachiensis, was described by H. Pavulaan and D. M. Wright from the southern Appalachian Mountains. These two species can be separated from P. glaucus by size; P. canadensis is smaller and P. appalachiensis is larger. These two also have a solid yellow bar along the margin of the ventral forewing. P. canadensis females are not dimorphic, and P. appalachiensis females are rarely black.

 

Similar species for the dark P. glaucus female include the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor), the spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus), and the female black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes). B. philenor differs from the dark morph P. glaucus by the row of light-colored spots on each wing margin. P. troilus is more greenish, and has two rows of orange spots on the ventral hindwing. P. polyxenes is smaller, and the ventral hindwing has two rows of yellow-orange spots.

 

Distribution and habitat

P. glaucus is found in the eastern United States from southern Vermont to Florida west to eastern Texas and the Great Plains. It is common throughout its range, although is rarer in southern Florida and absent from the Florida Keys. In 1932, a single specimen was collected in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is believed to have been an accidental introduction from North America.

 

P. glaucus can be found almost anywhere deciduous forests occur. Common habitats include woodlands, fields, rivers, creeks, roadsides, and gardens. It will stray into urban parks and city yards. Because it has adapted to many different habitats and host plants, P. glaucus is a generalist, and is not considered threatened. Papilio glaucus is considered to be one of the most polyphagous of all swallowtail species. This is likely due to genetic traits and differential detoxification abilities. However, as compared to Papilio canadensis, at the northern overlap between the two species, P. glaucus survive very poorly through their first larval instar when settling on a quaking aspen (Populus tremeloides) tree and their survival rate under those conditions are approximately 15%, whereas P. canadensis thrives on this food plant.

 

Adults are seen from spring to fall, although the exact date varies depending on the location. In the south, they are seen from February to November; in the north, they are seen from May to September. P. glaucus produces two broods in the north and three in the south. The first broods yield the smallest adults.

 

Behavior

Eastern tiger swallowtails are diurnal, and are usually solitary. Adults are known to fly high above the ground, usually seen above the tree canopy. Males seek females by patrolling habitats containing the larval host plants. During courtship, the male and female fly about each other prior to landing and mating. The male releases perfume-like pheromones during courtship to entice the female into mating.

 

Adults use a wide range of food sources, most preferring to nectar on sturdy plants with red or pink flowers. Many members of the families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae are used as common nectar sources. Males participate in a behavior called puddling, in which they congregate on mud, damp gravel or puddles. They extract sodium ions and amino acids from these sources which aid in reproduction. Males that puddle are typically fresh, and puddle only for their first couple of days. Females will occasionally puddle, but do not form congregations. Adults have also been seen feeding on dung, carrion, and urine.

 

The eastern tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus, is probably the most polyphagous of all 560+ species of swallowtail butterflies in the world.

 

Life cycle

The butterfly may have one or two generations in the north, while southern areas may have three. Time duration for various stages is as follows:

 

Egg - It takes three to five days for eggs to hatch.

Larva - The caterpillar has five instars.

Pupa - The chrysalis stage lasts nine to eleven days, or over winter hibernation.

Egg

 

Egg

Females lay their eggs singly on the host plant leaves, preferring to oviposit on host plants near nectar sources. The egg is round and green, later turning yellowish green with reddish dots. The size of the egg is large for a butterfly, being 0.8 millimeters (0.03 in) in height and 1.2 millimeters (0.05 in) in width. It takes between 4 and 10 days to hatch.

 

Caterpillar

The caterpillar eats the leaves of the host plant. It will rest on a silk pad on a leaf, with the edges of the leaf folded over itself and held together with silk. The first three instars are brown. A large white spot, known as a saddle, is found on the abdomen. After molting to the fourth instar, the caterpillar becomes green. The swollen thorax has two black, yellow, and blue eyespots. These eyespots are much smaller than those of the similar-looking spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. A yellow and black transverse stripe is present between the first and second abdominal segments. It is concealed between the folds of the segments when the caterpillar is at rest. The abdomen is spotted transversely with light blue. Before pupating, the caterpillar will turn dark brown. It will reach a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in). The caterpillar of P. glaucus is impossible to distinguish from the caterpillars of P. canadensis and P. appalachiensis.

 

Chrysalis

The chrysalis measures 3.2 centimetres (1.3 in). It hangs from a surface by a silk girdle around the thorax and a silk pad at the base. The chrysalis varies in color, ranging from off white to dark brown. It is often spotted with green and dark brown. Lighter-colored chrysalids often have a dark lateral stripe along each side of the body. Two horn-like projections are present on the head; one is found on the thorax. P. glaucus chrysalids can be found in a variety of places, but are commonly found on tree trunks, fence posts, and in ground litter. It hibernates in locations with cold winters.

 

Host plants

The caterpillar feeds on host plants of many different families. Common host plants used are those of the families Magnoliaceae and Rosaceae, with species including tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) and wild black cherry (Prunus serotina). It also feeds on other members of the family Rosaceae, as well as members from the families Lauraceae, Oleaceae, Rutaceae, and Tilioideae. Aspens (Populus sect. Populus), birches (Betula), and willows (Salix) have been recorded in older literature as host plants, but these are used by P. canadensis. Host plants of P. glaucus include:

 

Wild black cherry (Prunus serotina)

Ash (Fraxinus species)

Cottonwood (Populus species)

Wafer ash or hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata)

Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

Sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Tulip poplar or tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Willow (Salix species)

 

Defense against predators

The first three instars of the caterpillar are bird dropping mimics, coloration that helps protect it from predators. In later instars, the eyespots on the thorax serve to deter birds. Like all members of the family Papilionidae, the caterpillar of P. glaucus possesses an osmeterium, an orange, fleshy organ that emits foul-smelling terpenes to repel predators. Normally hidden, the osmeterium is located on the first segment of the thorax, and can be everted when the caterpillar feels threatened. The combination of eyespots and osmeterium makes the caterpillar resemble a snake.

 

Since adults are palatable, dark morph females use Batesian mimicry to protect themselves from vertebrate predators by mimicking the poisonous pipevine swallowtail. Dark morph females are more prevalent in the south, where B. philenor is more common.[

At Yaksheetasri.com, experience a feeling of healing and pampering with a blend of relaxation and rejuvenation in the exotic ambiance imparting a sense of tranquility, peace and calm. Humans need touch and touch is a powerful healer. For thousands of years, many cultures have practiced some form of massage with the aim of easing physical, mental and spiritual aliment. We at Yaksheetasri.com, welcome you to undertake the journey within, through powerful and magical touch.

Choose from an intelligent mix of exotic treatments, traditional massages, detoxification, reflexology, scrubs, wraps, signature facials, hair spa, foot spa and the most indispensable dental spa, to let go your stress, completely beautify your body and unchain the abundant energy within you. The entire range of treatments/rituals has also been grouped into a variety of packages to suit your convenience, desires and precious time.

At Yaksheetasri.com, the team of masseurs/masseuse comprises of handpicked experts from all field of massages and treatments with ample experience. In today’s fast paced individualistic world with huge scarcity of time and energy, come to Yaksheetasri.com and find yourself and the abundant energy within you. Yaksheetasri Spa's treatments have been carefully designed to energize your body, mind and soul. The treatments have been customized depending on the location, by keeping in mind the guest's needs. An airport spa would incorporate express treatments keeping in mind, the traveler's limited time.

Whether it is an express Spa & Salon with a selected few treatments or a complex set-up with exotic features and a wide array of spa services, Yaksheetasri Spa has a complete solution for hospitality organization. With in-house design, training, product development, marketing and management capabilities, Yaksheetasri Spa can offer individual solutions from green field projects to complete spa management of existing facilities.

Yaksheetasri Spa is only leading "Premium Class" Chennai spa chain in existence. We have transformed a first class upscale Chennai Massage & spa concept in to a successful spa wonderland. This has turned out as a perfect gift for passengers who are on- the-go. Our spas are designed to encourage tranquility and well-being. We use warm earth tones of wenge & beige, world class leather seating, wooden floors, gentle indirect lighting and soothing background music to create a relaxing environment that attracts women’s only.

Additionally, Yaksheetasri Spa has developed numerous innovative spa practices that enhance the airport spa experience. We are very proud to have revolutionized the way to operate a spa, while having created the most relaxing destination in Chennai. In the past couple of years, Yaksheetasri Spa single-handedly transformed Indian Chennai concessions by turning spas into a must-have for any major are in Chennai.

Foot Reflexology

Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way.

Neck & Back Massage

A massage is the most basic of all healing techniques. Studies indicate that this touch therapy reduces stress, depression, lessen pain and boost the immune system. A back massage is the most preferred massage treatment as poor spine, postural defects and sleeping disorders are effectively addressed through this simple, nurturing and powerful touch therapy.

Swedish Massage

Swedish body massage is the original massage technique involving a sequence of movements working superficially and deeper into the tissue layers. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Massage helps in flushing the tissues of harmful deposits such as lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes . Swedish massage also stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable, and stimulates the skin and sooth the nervous system at the same time. As a treatment it helps reduce stress, both emotional and physical, and is often suggested in a program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

Balinese Massage

A Balinese massage uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure. Aroma oils used in the massage stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and energy around your body, and bring deep relaxation and wellness. Massage is a rigorous and luxurious spa treatment and a great one to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, relax and feel spiritually renewed at the same time. Balinese massage is related to the ancient Ayurveda, the Indian holistic medical system.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is an ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing by the use of plants and their parts. The roots, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds and nuts play a crucial part in this massage. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing and overall relaxation and wellbeing.

Thai Massage

Thai massage is an ancient healing art. Through application of pressure on energy lines and points, and a vast array of passive stretching movements performed with the hands, feet, knees and elbows, the body experiences profound relaxation, peripheral stimulation of internal organs, increased flexibility and increased flow of energy. Thai massage is that you get the flexibility, inner organ massage, oxygenation of the blood and quieting of the mind that is attained with yoga. Through deep muscle stretching, joint release and emphasis on breath, Thai massage offers many of the same benefits as yoga.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a particularly effective massage for people with muscular pain. Massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the oxygen flow around your body. This gets rid of toxins in very sore and strained muscles, which helps them to strengthen and heal. Deep tissue massage is often used to treat people who are recovering from accidents, and for sports injuries as it increases blood circulation in muscles that are underused, relieves chronic muscle tension throughout the body, and can also break down scar tissue and "knots" deep in the muscles.

Ayurveda Massage

According to Ayurveda each individual is a combination of the 3 doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. These 3 govern the metabolic activity in an individual. The detoxification methods like panchakarma and other health remedies ( herbal) when applied wholly/singly make the body, more responsive to medicines thereby hastening the healing process. Various yogasanas achieve, the twin propose of strengthening the body, vital organs like heart, liver etc. as well as keep the physical and psychological condition strong. Not only do the herbal remedies play an important role in internal health and well being but also external health and beauty which is quite evident from the overall appearance.

One of the most important reasons for increasing use of Ayurveda in beauty and skin care is that this system can clearly bring out a youthful clear skin in conjunction with happiness and relaxation which otherwise can’t be achieved by cosmetics. A well regulated lifestyle along with suggesting a discerning diet according to ones doshas will go a long way to strengthen ones natural immune system. Ayurveda is perhaps the first such system that recognises that all diseases are, but the direct manifestations of one’s mental conditions. Any disturbance in the 3 states of human mind (Trigunas) namely Satwa, Rajas as and Tamas manifests in the form of physical illness.

 

At Yaksheetasri.com, experience a feeling of healing and pampering with a blend of relaxation and rejuvenation in the exotic ambiance imparting a sense of tranquility, peace and calm. Humans need touch and touch is a powerful healer. For thousands of years, many cultures have practiced some form of massage with the aim of easing physical, mental and spiritual aliment. We at Yaksheetasri.com, welcome you to undertake the journey within, through powerful and magical touch.

Choose from an intelligent mix of exotic treatments, traditional massages, detoxification, reflexology, scrubs, wraps, signature facials, hair spa, foot spa and the most indispensable dental spa, to let go your stress, completely beautify your body and unchain the abundant energy within you. The entire range of treatments/rituals has also been grouped into a variety of packages to suit your convenience, desires and precious time.

At Yaksheetasri.com, the team of masseurs/masseuse comprises of handpicked experts from all field of massages and treatments with ample experience. In today’s fast paced individualistic world with huge scarcity of time and energy, come to Yaksheetasri.com and find yourself and the abundant energy within you. Yaksheetasri Spa's treatments have been carefully designed to energize your body, mind and soul. The treatments have been customized depending on the location, by keeping in mind the guest's needs. An airport spa would incorporate express treatments keeping in mind, the traveler's limited time.

Whether it is an express Spa & Salon with a selected few treatments or a complex set-up with exotic features and a wide array of spa services, Yaksheetasri Spa has a complete solution for hospitality organization. With in-house design, training, product development, marketing and management capabilities, Yaksheetasri Spa can offer individual solutions from green field projects to complete spa management of existing facilities.

Yaksheetasri Spa is only leading "Premium Class" Chennai spa chain in existence. We have transformed a first class upscale Chennai Massage & spa concept in to a successful spa wonderland. This has turned out as a perfect gift for passengers who are on- the-go. Our spas are designed to encourage tranquility and well-being. We use warm earth tones of wenge & beige, world class leather seating, wooden floors, gentle indirect lighting and soothing background music to create a relaxing environment that attracts women’s only.

Additionally, Yaksheetasri Spa has developed numerous innovative spa practices that enhance the airport spa experience. We are very proud to have revolutionized the way to operate a spa, while having created the most relaxing destination in Chennai. In the past couple of years, Yaksheetasri Spa single-handedly transformed Indian Chennai concessions by turning spas into a must-have for any major are in Chennai.

Foot Reflexology

Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way.

Neck & Back Massage

A massage is the most basic of all healing techniques. Studies indicate that this touch therapy reduces stress, depression, lessen pain and boost the immune system. A back massage is the most preferred massage treatment as poor spine, postural defects and sleeping disorders are effectively addressed through this simple, nurturing and powerful touch therapy.

Swedish Massage

Swedish body massage is the original massage technique involving a sequence of movements working superficially and deeper into the tissue layers. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Massage helps in flushing the tissues of harmful deposits such as lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes . Swedish massage also stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable, and stimulates the skin and sooth the nervous system at the same time. As a treatment it helps reduce stress, both emotional and physical, and is often suggested in a program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

Balinese Massage

A Balinese massage uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure. Aroma oils used in the massage stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and energy around your body, and bring deep relaxation and wellness. Massage is a rigorous and luxurious spa treatment and a great one to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, relax and feel spiritually renewed at the same time. Balinese massage is related to the ancient Ayurveda, the Indian holistic medical system.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is an ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing by the use of plants and their parts. The roots, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds and nuts play a crucial part in this massage. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing and overall relaxation and wellbeing.

Thai Massage

Thai massage is an ancient healing art. Through application of pressure on energy lines and points, and a vast array of passive stretching movements performed with the hands, feet, knees and elbows, the body experiences profound relaxation, peripheral stimulation of internal organs, increased flexibility and increased flow of energy. Thai massage is that you get the flexibility, inner organ massage, oxygenation of the blood and quieting of the mind that is attained with yoga. Through deep muscle stretching, joint release and emphasis on breath, Thai massage offers many of the same benefits as yoga.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a particularly effective massage for people with muscular pain. Massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the oxygen flow around your body. This gets rid of toxins in very sore and strained muscles, which helps them to strengthen and heal. Deep tissue massage is often used to treat people who are recovering from accidents, and for sports injuries as it increases blood circulation in muscles that are underused, relieves chronic muscle tension throughout the body, and can also break down scar tissue and "knots" deep in the muscles.

Ayurveda Massage

According to Ayurveda each individual is a combination of the 3 doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. These 3 govern the metabolic activity in an individual. The detoxification methods like panchakarma and other health remedies ( herbal) when applied wholly/singly make the body, more responsive to medicines thereby hastening the healing process. Various yogasanas achieve, the twin propose of strengthening the body, vital organs like heart, liver etc. as well as keep the physical and psychological condition strong. Not only do the herbal remedies play an important role in internal health and well being but also external health and beauty which is quite evident from the overall appearance.

One of the most important reasons for increasing use of Ayurveda in beauty and skin care is that this system can clearly bring out a youthful clear skin in conjunction with happiness and relaxation which otherwise can’t be achieved by cosmetics. A well regulated lifestyle along with suggesting a discerning diet according to ones doshas will go a long way to strengthen ones natural immune system. Ayurveda is perhaps the first such system that recognises that all diseases are, but the direct manifestations of one’s mental conditions. Any disturbance in the 3 states of human mind (Trigunas) namely Satwa, Rajas as and Tamas manifests in the form of physical illness.

 

My Experience

I am a permanent resident of Kolkata, but I never witnessed the celebration of Chhath Pooja here. Lakhs of migrant residents from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states of India and Nepal as well, celebrated their most ancient festival along the bank of river Hoogly, the sacred river that flows through the city. On 6th November this year, around 2pm, I went to a famous ghat on the bank of river Hoogly opposite to Eden gardens. It was an unique photographic journey to witness how people performed their rituals with so much devotion and faith. I saw hundreds of devotees sitting on the banks quietly with their offerings to Sun God and some performing their rituals with half of their bodies immersed in the Ganges, and some with fire, called ‘Homas’. I was closely looking at them, and I was amazed by their dedication, devotion and complacency. Thousands of devotees were found proceeding towards the Ganges with their offerings, all cladded in bright clothes and ornaments, and many were found on their way to lay prone on the roads touching their whole body (Ashtanga or eight parts of the body) on the Earth and performing ‘Dondis’(Surya Namaskara -Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार, Sun Salutation). Many of the family members, including newborn kids were found lying on the roads waiting for the main worshipper of the family to crossover their bodies as a way to get blessings from them. Most of the main family worshippers were found to be the eldest ladies of the family. Through Chhath, I rediscovered my religious India, in a new and beautiful way.

  

Chhath Pooja

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival of worshiping Sun God, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.Historically it is native to eastern Uttar Pradesh, North Bihar of India and Mithila State of Nepal.The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.The God is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is also believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. Environmentalists claim that Chhath is the most eco-friendly Hindu festival.

 

Regions Celebrating Chhath

Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal,Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP, it is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, as well in various countries worldwide.

 

Timings

Chhath puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in Bengali calender. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian English Calendar.

  

History

The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites. It is assumed that the oldest Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional pooja of the Lord Sun. They used to chant the ancient Rigveda texts and a variety of hymns for worshiping the God. In the ancient time of Mahabharata Chhath pooja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandavas of Hastinapur (present Delhi) for solving their instant problem and regaining their lost kingdom. It is also assumed that the Chhath puja was first started by the Surya Putra (son of Sun God) Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during the Mahabharata period.

 

Ethymology

The word chhath means sixth in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri languages and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.

The Goddess who is also worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the beloved younger wife of Surya, the sun god. The rituals signify rising sun as well as setting sun.

 

Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja

It is believed that worshipers of the Chhath take holy bath and follows a period of abstinence and become separate for 4 days from the main family. Throughout the period he is believed as the pure spirit and sleep on the floor having single blanket.

Devotees offer prasad to Sun at the Chhath such as sweets, Kheer, Thekua, bananas and other fruits included in a small bamboo tokari. The prasad is cooked without salt, onions or garlic with maintained purity. It is a four days festival which includes:

On the first day, devotees take bathe early in the morning in the holy water of Gange and bring some holy water to their home to prepare the offerings. The home and its surroundings should be cleaned at this day. They take only one meal a day known as kaddu-bhat cooked only by using the bronze or soil utensils and mango woods over the soil stove.

On the second day, the day before Chhath, devotees keeps fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after sunset after the worship of Sun. They offer Rasiao-kheer, puris, fruits in the puja. After taking meal in the evening, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours.

On the third day (day of Chhath) they offer the Sanjhiya Arghya at the ghat of riverbank. After Arghya, they wear the single saree of turmeric color. Other family members are waiting for getting the blessings from worshiper. At the night of Chhath a vibrant event of Kosi is celebrated by lighting the lamps of clay diyas under the covering of five sugarcane sticks. The five sugarcane sticks indicate the Panchatattva (earth, water, fire, air and space) the human is body made up of.

On the early morning of the fourth day (Paarun), devotees along with their family and friends offer Bihaniya Aragh at the ghat of riverbank of Gange. Devotees end their festival through breaking the fast by having the Chhath prashad.

 

Six levels of purification in Chhath ( a belief)

The belief of fast and cleanliness of body on the festival identify the detoxification of the body and mind in order to set up the body and mind to accept the cosmic solar energy.

Standing in water with half of the body inside the water diminishes the escape of energy as well as facilitates the prana to elevate to the sushumna.

Then the entrance of cosmic solar energy takes place in the pineal gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus (known as the Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

In the 4th stage Triveni complex gets activated.

After activation of the Triveni complex, spine gets polarized and body of devotee gets transformed into a cosmic powerhouse and gets the Kundalini Shakti.

At this stage the devotee is fully able to conduct, recycle and pass on the energy into entire universe.

  

Benefits of the rituals (a belief)

Devotee of the Chhath puja can improve the immunity of body.

A variety of skin infections can be cured through the safe radiations of sunlight.

It increases the fighting power of blood by improving the performance of WBC.

Solar energy provides the power to control the secretion of hormones.

 

Significance

Chhath puja has a special significance during the Sunrise and Sunset periods. The Sunrise and sunset are the most important periods of the day during which a human body can safely get the solar energy without any harm. That’s why there is a myth of offering the Sanjhiya Arghya and Bihaniya Arghya to the Sun at the Chhath festival. During this period the solar energy has low level of ultraviolet radiations so it is safe for the human body. People perform the Chhath puja in order to thank the Lord Sun for the lives on the earth as well as to get blessings.

The ritual of Chhath puja provides mental calmness (by detoxifying the body and mind), enhances the energy level and immunity, reduces the frequency of anger, greed and jealousy as well as lot of negative emotions. It is also believed that following the Chhath processes helps in slowing down the ageing process. Such beliefs and rituals of the Chhath make it the most significant festival in the Hindus ever.

 

[ Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath and www.varanasi.org.in/chhath-pooja ]

  

Ginger Pepper Citrus Musk Essential Oil Natural Soap

 

I've blended ginger, black pepper and an array of citrus essential oils including orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit to make up this essential oil delight.Those burgundy stripes you see are musk fragrance oil. The scent is wonderful together!

 

Here's a couple of things these essential oils have been said to help with:

 

Ginger oil is used in the treatment of fractures, rheumatism, arthritis, bruising, carbuncles, nausea, hangovers, travel and sea sickness, colds and flu, catarrh, congestion, coughs, sinusitis, sores on the skin, sore throat, diarrhea, colic, cramps, chills and fever.

 

Black Pepper is a warming oil can be used to great effect to help circulation and bruising and specifically to help with muscle tone, aching limbs and rheumatoid arthritis. It further helps to promote digestion, the colon as well as the kidneys.

 

Orange oil can be used effectively on the immune system, as well as for colds and flu and to eliminate toxins from the body.It is a good diuretic and is most useful in balancing water retention and obesity. Its lymphatic stimulant action further helps to balance water processes, detoxification, aiding the immune system and general well-being.

 

Lemon oil can be very beneficial to the circulatory system and aids with blood flow, reducing blood pressure and helping with nosebleeds. It can help bring down fever, helps relieve throat infections, bronchitis, asthma and flu. It boosts the immune system and cleanses the body, improves the functions of the digestive system, and it is helpful with constipation, dyspepsia and cellulite. Lemon oil soothes and relieves headaches and migraines and is helpful for rheumatism and arthritis. It is also used for clearing acne, cleaning greasy skin and hair, as well as removing dead skin cells, easing painful cold sores, mouth ulcers, herpes and insect bites.

 

Lime oil is useful to cool fevers associated with colds, sore throats and flu and aids the immune system while easing coughs, bronchitis and sinusitis, as well as helping asthma. Lime oil can stimulate and refresh a tired mind and helps with depression. It can be helpful for arthritis, rheumatism and poor circulation, as well as for obesity and cellulite and has an astringent and toning action to clear oily skin and acne, and also helps with herpes, insect bites and cuts.

 

Grapefruit has a high vitamin C content and is therefore valuable to the immune system. It helps protect against colds and flu, has a very positive effect on obesity and also has diuretic properties, helping to remove excess water from the body and is therefore also great for treating cellulite. It has an uplifting effect on the mood and helps with stress and depression. It is used with great success to combat muscle fatigue and stiffness while stimulating the lymphatic system and thereby clearing the body of toxins. It helps to clear congested oily skin and also assists with acne, while toning the skin and tissues. Grapefruit is used in hair care to promote hair growth.

The Mysterious death of Keith Moon

 

In mid-1978 Moon moved into a flat in Curzon Place (later Curzon Square), Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, renting from Harry Nilsson. Cass Elliot had died there four years earlier, at the age of 32; Nilsson was concerned about letting the flat to Moon, believing it was cursed. Townshend disagreed, assuring him that "lightning wouldn't strike the same place twice".

 

After moving in, Moon began a prescribed course of Heminevrin (clomethiazole, a sedative) to alleviate his alcohol withdrawal symptoms. He wanted to get sober, but due to his fear of psychiatric hospitals he wanted to do it at home. Clomethiazole is discouraged for unsupervised detoxification because of its addictive potential, its tendency to induce tolerance, and its risk of death when mixed with alcohol.

  

The pills were prescribed by Geoffrey Dymond, a physician who was unaware of Moon's lifestyle. Dymond prescribed a bottle of 100 pills, instructing him to take one pill when he felt a craving for alcohol but not more than three pills per day.

  

"Baba O'Riley"'s backing track was derived from the Lifehouse concept, where Townshend wanted to input the vital signs and personality of Meher Baba into a synthesiser, which would then generate music based on that data. When this idea fell through, Townshend instead recorded a Lowrey Berkshire Deluxe TBO-1 organ using its marimba repeat feature as the backing track.[6] This modal approach was inspired by the work of minimalist composer Terry Riley.

 

Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 – 7 September 1978) was an English drummer who played with the English rock band the Who.

 

Moon's style of drumming was considered unique by his bandmates, although they sometimes found his unconventional playing frustrating; Entwistle noted that he tended to play faster or slower according to his mood.

  

The Who - Baba O'Riley (Live)

 

TheWho.Info YouTube

 

Published on Aug 24, 2015

youtu.be/aH-xoD3oVU8

Decontamination is accomplished by removal of hazardous materials including chemicals, radioactive substances, and infectious agent by physical means or by chemical neutralization or detoxification.

 

Contaminated persons must be separated by sex and led into a decon room where they shed their contaminated clothes.

 

Then they enter a wash-down room where they are showered

 

Decontamination of skin is the primary concern, but decontamination of eyes and wounds must also be done when necessary.

------------------

a drugs box found in an abandoned military hospital during the "emergency mission"

Well, for those who doing a detoxification plan, will get benefit from nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. These multivitamins could be obtained from freshly prepared juice. It makes juice diet being popular today. Maybe, you keep wondering, why do we have to drink a juice while we can directly...

 

www.jatik.com/en/juice-diet-detox-body/

At Yaksheetasri.com, experience a feeling of healing and pampering with a blend of relaxation and rejuvenation in the exotic ambiance imparting a sense of tranquility, peace and calm. Humans need touch and touch is a powerful healer. For thousands of years, many cultures have practiced some form of massage with the aim of easing physical, mental and spiritual aliment. We at Yaksheetasri.com, welcome you to undertake the journey within, through powerful and magical touch.

Choose from an intelligent mix of exotic treatments, traditional massages, detoxification, reflexology, scrubs, wraps, signature facials, hair spa, foot spa and the most indispensable dental spa, to let go your stress, completely beautify your body and unchain the abundant energy within you. The entire range of treatments/rituals has also been grouped into a variety of packages to suit your convenience, desires and precious time.

At Yaksheetasri.com, the team of masseurs/masseuse comprises of handpicked experts from all field of massages and treatments with ample experience. In today’s fast paced individualistic world with huge scarcity of time and energy, come to Yaksheetasri.com and find yourself and the abundant energy within you. Yaksheetasri Spa's treatments have been carefully designed to energize your body, mind and soul. The treatments have been customized depending on the location, by keeping in mind the guest's needs. An airport spa would incorporate express treatments keeping in mind, the traveler's limited time.

Whether it is an express Spa & Salon with a selected few treatments or a complex set-up with exotic features and a wide array of spa services, Yaksheetasri Spa has a complete solution for hospitality organization. With in-house design, training, product development, marketing and management capabilities, Yaksheetasri Spa can offer individual solutions from green field projects to complete spa management of existing facilities.

Yaksheetasri Spa is only leading "Premium Class" Chennai spa chain in existence. We have transformed a first class upscale Chennai Massage & spa concept in to a successful spa wonderland. This has turned out as a perfect gift for passengers who are on- the-go. Our spas are designed to encourage tranquility and well-being. We use warm earth tones of wenge & beige, world class leather seating, wooden floors, gentle indirect lighting and soothing background music to create a relaxing environment that attracts women’s only.

Additionally, Yaksheetasri Spa has developed numerous innovative spa practices that enhance the airport spa experience. We are very proud to have revolutionized the way to operate a spa, while having created the most relaxing destination in Chennai. In the past couple of years, Yaksheetasri Spa single-handedly transformed Indian Chennai concessions by turning spas into a must-have for any major are in Chennai.

Foot Reflexology

Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way.

Neck & Back Massage

A massage is the most basic of all healing techniques. Studies indicate that this touch therapy reduces stress, depression, lessen pain and boost the immune system. A back massage is the most preferred massage treatment as poor spine, postural defects and sleeping disorders are effectively addressed through this simple, nurturing and powerful touch therapy.

Swedish Massage

Swedish body massage is the original massage technique involving a sequence of movements working superficially and deeper into the tissue layers. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Massage helps in flushing the tissues of harmful deposits such as lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes . Swedish massage also stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable, and stimulates the skin and sooth the nervous system at the same time. As a treatment it helps reduce stress, both emotional and physical, and is often suggested in a program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

Balinese Massage

A Balinese massage uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure. Aroma oils used in the massage stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and energy around your body, and bring deep relaxation and wellness. Massage is a rigorous and luxurious spa treatment and a great one to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, relax and feel spiritually renewed at the same time. Balinese massage is related to the ancient Ayurveda, the Indian holistic medical system.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is an ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing by the use of plants and their parts. The roots, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds and nuts play a crucial part in this massage. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing and overall relaxation and wellbeing.

Thai Massage

Thai massage is an ancient healing art. Through application of pressure on energy lines and points, and a vast array of passive stretching movements performed with the hands, feet, knees and elbows, the body experiences profound relaxation, peripheral stimulation of internal organs, increased flexibility and increased flow of energy. Thai massage is that you get the flexibility, inner organ massage, oxygenation of the blood and quieting of the mind that is attained with yoga. Through deep muscle stretching, joint release and emphasis on breath, Thai massage offers many of the same benefits as yoga.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a particularly effective massage for people with muscular pain. Massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the oxygen flow around your body. This gets rid of toxins in very sore and strained muscles, which helps them to strengthen and heal. Deep tissue massage is often used to treat people who are recovering from accidents, and for sports injuries as it increases blood circulation in muscles that are underused, relieves chronic muscle tension throughout the body, and can also break down scar tissue and "knots" deep in the muscles.

Ayurveda Massage

According to Ayurveda each individual is a combination of the 3 doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. These 3 govern the metabolic activity in an individual. The detoxification methods like panchakarma and other health remedies ( herbal) when applied wholly/singly make the body, more responsive to medicines thereby hastening the healing process. Various yogasanas achieve, the twin propose of strengthening the body, vital organs like heart, liver etc. as well as keep the physical and psychological condition strong. Not only do the herbal remedies play an important role in internal health and well being but also external health and beauty which is quite evident from the overall appearance.

One of the most important reasons for increasing use of Ayurveda in beauty and skin care is that this system can clearly bring out a youthful clear skin in conjunction with happiness and relaxation which otherwise can’t be achieved by cosmetics. A well regulated lifestyle along with suggesting a discerning diet according to ones doshas will go a long way to strengthen ones natural immune system. Ayurveda is perhaps the first such system that recognises that all diseases are, but the direct manifestations of one’s mental conditions. Any disturbance in the 3 states of human mind (Trigunas) namely Satwa, Rajas as and Tamas manifests in the form of physical illness.

 

At Yaksheetasri.com, experience a feeling of healing and pampering with a blend of relaxation and rejuvenation in the exotic ambiance imparting a sense of tranquility, peace and calm. Humans need touch and touch is a powerful healer. For thousands of years, many cultures have practiced some form of massage with the aim of easing physical, mental and spiritual aliment. We at Yaksheetasri.com, welcome you to undertake the journey within, through powerful and magical touch.

Choose from an intelligent mix of exotic treatments, traditional massages, detoxification, reflexology, scrubs, wraps, signature facials, hair spa, foot spa and the most indispensable dental spa, to let go your stress, completely beautify your body and unchain the abundant energy within you. The entire range of treatments/rituals has also been grouped into a variety of packages to suit your convenience, desires and precious time.

At Yaksheetasri.com, the team of masseurs/masseuse comprises of handpicked experts from all field of massages and treatments with ample experience. In today’s fast paced individualistic world with huge scarcity of time and energy, come to Yaksheetasri.com and find yourself and the abundant energy within you. Yaksheetasri Spa's treatments have been carefully designed to energize your body, mind and soul. The treatments have been customized depending on the location, by keeping in mind the guest's needs. An airport spa would incorporate express treatments keeping in mind, the traveler's limited time.

Whether it is an express Spa & Salon with a selected few treatments or a complex set-up with exotic features and a wide array of spa services, Yaksheetasri Spa has a complete solution for hospitality organization. With in-house design, training, product development, marketing and management capabilities, Yaksheetasri Spa can offer individual solutions from green field projects to complete spa management of existing facilities.

Yaksheetasri Spa is only leading "Premium Class" Chennai spa chain in existence. We have transformed a first class upscale Chennai Massage & spa concept in to a successful spa wonderland. This has turned out as a perfect gift for passengers who are on- the-go. Our spas are designed to encourage tranquility and well-being. We use warm earth tones of wenge & beige, world class leather seating, wooden floors, gentle indirect lighting and soothing background music to create a relaxing environment that attracts women’s only.

Additionally, Yaksheetasri Spa has developed numerous innovative spa practices that enhance the airport spa experience. We are very proud to have revolutionized the way to operate a spa, while having created the most relaxing destination in Chennai. In the past couple of years, Yaksheetasri Spa single-handedly transformed Indian Chennai concessions by turning spas into a must-have for any major are in Chennai.

Foot Reflexology

Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way.

Neck & Back Massage

A massage is the most basic of all healing techniques. Studies indicate that this touch therapy reduces stress, depression, lessen pain and boost the immune system. A back massage is the most preferred massage treatment as poor spine, postural defects and sleeping disorders are effectively addressed through this simple, nurturing and powerful touch therapy.

Swedish Massage

Swedish body massage is the original massage technique involving a sequence of movements working superficially and deeper into the tissue layers. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Massage helps in flushing the tissues of harmful deposits such as lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes . Swedish massage also stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable, and stimulates the skin and sooth the nervous system at the same time. As a treatment it helps reduce stress, both emotional and physical, and is often suggested in a program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

Balinese Massage

A Balinese massage uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure. Aroma oils used in the massage stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and energy around your body, and bring deep relaxation and wellness. Massage is a rigorous and luxurious spa treatment and a great one to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, relax and feel spiritually renewed at the same time. Balinese massage is related to the ancient Ayurveda, the Indian holistic medical system.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is an ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing by the use of plants and their parts. The roots, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds and nuts play a crucial part in this massage. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing and overall relaxation and wellbeing.

Thai Massage

Thai massage is an ancient healing art. Through application of pressure on energy lines and points, and a vast array of passive stretching movements performed with the hands, feet, knees and elbows, the body experiences profound relaxation, peripheral stimulation of internal organs, increased flexibility and increased flow of energy. Thai massage is that you get the flexibility, inner organ massage, oxygenation of the blood and quieting of the mind that is attained with yoga. Through deep muscle stretching, joint release and emphasis on breath, Thai massage offers many of the same benefits as yoga.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a particularly effective massage for people with muscular pain. Massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the oxygen flow around your body. This gets rid of toxins in very sore and strained muscles, which helps them to strengthen and heal. Deep tissue massage is often used to treat people who are recovering from accidents, and for sports injuries as it increases blood circulation in muscles that are underused, relieves chronic muscle tension throughout the body, and can also break down scar tissue and "knots" deep in the muscles.

Ayurveda Massage

According to Ayurveda each individual is a combination of the 3 doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. These 3 govern the metabolic activity in an individual. The detoxification methods like panchakarma and other health remedies ( herbal) when applied wholly/singly make the body, more responsive to medicines thereby hastening the healing process. Various yogasanas achieve, the twin propose of strengthening the body, vital organs like heart, liver etc. as well as keep the physical and psychological condition strong. Not only do the herbal remedies play an important role in internal health and well being but also external health and beauty which is quite evident from the overall appearance.

One of the most important reasons for increasing use of Ayurveda in beauty and skin care is that this system can clearly bring out a youthful clear skin in conjunction with happiness and relaxation which otherwise can’t be achieved by cosmetics. A well regulated lifestyle along with suggesting a discerning diet according to ones doshas will go a long way to strengthen ones natural immune system. Ayurveda is perhaps the first such system that recognises that all diseases are, but the direct manifestations of one’s mental conditions. Any disturbance in the 3 states of human mind (Trigunas) namely Satwa, Rajas as and Tamas manifests in the form of physical illness.

 

Yoga Detox with Gloria Baraquio at The Springs LA youtu.be/N0YtOcsKJAQ A classic, strong yoga video for detoxification filmed at The Springs LA thespringsla.com in Los Angeles and taught by Gloria Baraquio. This Yoga Detox class includes lots of twists, seated poses, strength building standing sequence and special kundalini yoga breathing practice to help support deep, internal detox. Gloria Baraquio is a yogini from Hawaii who began her practice in 2003 when she began suffering from anxiety attacks. After experiencing her ujjayi breath for the first time in a yoga class, she finally understood the importance of breathing and how it could calm, center, and ground her life. She began teaching in 2006 and embarked on a journey through vinyasa, ashtanga, Iyengar, hatha, bhakti, kundalini, somatics, ecstatic dance, Nia, Rolfing, acupuncture, physical theater, and natural foods, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the body, mind, voice, movement, and nutrition. As a teacher and Yoga Director of The Springs, Gloria’s desire is to help others cultivate an intimate relationship with themselves and their surroundings so that they can live more fully, with love, peace, gratitude, and well-being. Gloria's background is in education, performing arts, film production, and community building. While working as a TV host, writer, and actor in Hawaii, she taught K-12 students in public charter schools (Language Arts, Math, Digital Media, and Yoga). Living both on and off the grid of the Big Island for 7 years was her greatest training in spiritual practice, yoga, natural healing, and community building. She is certified to teach vinyasa and aerial yoga. www.gloriabaraquio.com Check out some of our other Yoga videos here: Yin Yoga Deep Stretching with Michelle Goldstein www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQt6Ij9kAAcYoga Workout Yoga Flow w/ Gloria Boraquio Prayer of Surrender Meditaion with Gloria Baraquio www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAh31KtABhQ 30 Minute Cardio Flow Yoga Workout youtu.be/cRJlOKb_chs Slow Strong Yoga Flow with Raquel Jordan www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHUVUhJlyIk Astavakrasana pose breakdown with Michelle Goldstein Alternate Nostril Breathing with Michelle Goldstein www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khj843WDYGo Click below to subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/heartalchemyyoga Our Sites www.heartalchemyyoga.com facebook.com/heartalchemyyoga instagram.com/travlinyogini twitter.com/travlinyogini

The lymphatic system is part of the immune system where cleansing of blood, and the detoxification of our bodies takes place. A huge network of lymphatic vessels recycles blood plasma by removing fluid from the tissues, filtering it, and carrying it back into the bloodstream.

These are foods to add into your diet to boost the lymphatic system:

* Garlic

Garlic boosts immune function and combats harmful microbes. It improves circulation and aids in the cleansing of toxins. It boosts the function of your lymphatic system and contains antibacterial qualities.

* Citrus

Citrus fruits aid hydration, carry powerful antioxidants and enzymes, and help cleanse and protect the lymphatic system.

Justice for Colten Boushie!!

___________________ ____________________

 

"Fitch testified at the inquiry that the officers failed in their duty to exercise reasonable care with Paul, and that charges of manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessities of life against the officers were considered, but he concluded there was not a substantial likelihood of conviction."

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/06/22/...

_________________ ____________________ __________________

 

The man in charge of the Vancouver jail the night Frank Paul was left in the alley where he died nine years ago said he didn't believe Paul was intoxicated enough to be kept in the drunk tank.

 

Paul, a former resident of the Big Cove First Nation in New Brunswick, died of hypothermia because of exposure due to alcohol intoxication.

 

Video played earlier to the inquiry shows officers dragging Paul's limp body into the jail's elevator. His soaking body left a long wet streak along the floor.

 

www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/01/07/bc-fr...

 

____________________________ ___________________________

 

As pieced together from the police video by the 2004 Ryneveld report, a "motionless" Paul was dragged into the jail elevator at 8:25 p.m. on December 5, 1998. His condition was seen by a number of individuals, including the sergeant on duty, who determined that Paul wasn't intoxicated. Five minutes later, at 8:30 p.m., a police wagon driver and a provincial jail guard dragged "a still rain-soaked, motionless Frank Paul from the elevator to the police wagon along the floor of the wagon bay area". The wagon driver delivered another intoxicated person in the wagon to a detoxification centre before placing Paul in a nearby alley. His lifeless body was found at 2:41 a.m. on December 6, 1998, at that same location.

www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=108547075846328

 

.

Glasses with fresh organic vegetable and fruit juices Detox diet.

In the procession.....

  

My Experience of Chhath.

I am a permanent resident of Kolkata, but I never witnessed the celebration of Chhath Pooja here. Lakhs of migrant residents from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states of India and Nepal as well, celebrated their most ancient festival along the bank of river Hoogly, the sacred river that flows through the city. On 6th November this year, around 2pm, I went to a famous ghat on the bank of river Hoogly opposite to Eden gardens. It was an unique photographic journey to witness how people performed their rituals with so much devotion and faith. I saw hundreds of devotees sitting on the banks quietly with their offerings to Sun God and some performing their rituals with half of their bodies immersed in the Ganges, and some with fire, called ‘Homas’. I was closely looking at them, and I was amazed by their dedication, devotion and complacency. Thousands of devotees were found proceeding towards the Ganges with their offerings, all cladded in bright clothes and ornaments, and many were found on their way to lay prone on the roads touching their whole body (Ashtanga or eight parts of the body) on the Earth and performing ‘Dondis’(Surya Namaskara -Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार, Sun Salutation). Many of the family members, including newborn kids were found lying on the roads waiting for the main worshipper of the family to crossover their bodies as a way to get blessings from them. Most of the main family worshippers were found to be the eldest ladies of the family. Through Chhath, I rediscovered my religious India, in a new and beautiful way.

  

Chhath Pooja

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival of worshiping Sun God, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.Historically it is native to eastern Uttar Pradesh, North Bihar of India and Mithila State of Nepal.The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.The God is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is also believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. Environmentalists claim that Chhath is the most eco-friendly Hindu festival.

 

Regions Celebrating Chhath

Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal,Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP, it is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, as well in various countries worldwide.

 

Timings

Chhath puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in Bengali calender. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian English Calendar.

  

History

The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites. It is assumed that the oldest Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional pooja of the Lord Sun. They used to chant the ancient Rigveda texts and a variety of hymns for worshiping the God. In the ancient time of Mahabharata Chhath pooja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandavas of Hastinapur (present Delhi) for solving their instant problem and regaining their lost kingdom. It is also assumed that the Chhath puja was first started by the Surya Putra (son of Sun God) Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during the Mahabharata period.

 

Ethymology

The word chhath means sixth in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri languages and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.

The Goddess who is also worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the beloved younger wife of Surya, the sun god. The rituals signify rising sun as well as setting sun.

 

Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja

It is believed that worshipers of the Chhath take holy bath and follows a period of abstinence and become separate for 4 days from the main family. Throughout the period he is believed as the pure spirit and sleep on the floor having single blanket.

Devotees offer prasad to Sun at the Chhath such as sweets, Kheer, Thekua, bananas and other fruits included in a small bamboo tokari. The prasad is cooked without salt, onions or garlic with maintained purity. It is a four days festival which includes:

On the first day, devotees take bathe early in the morning in the holy water of Gange and bring some holy water to their home to prepare the offerings. The home and its surroundings should be cleaned at this day. They take only one meal a day known as kaddu-bhat cooked only by using the bronze or soil utensils and mango woods over the soil stove.

On the second day, the day before Chhath, devotees keeps fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after sunset after the worship of Sun. They offer Rasiao-kheer, puris, fruits in the puja. After taking meal in the evening, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours.

On the third day (day of Chhath) they offer the Sanjhiya Arghya at the ghat of riverbank. After Arghya, they wear the single saree of turmeric color. Other family members are waiting for getting the blessings from worshiper. At the night of Chhath a vibrant event of Kosi is celebrated by lighting the lamps of clay diyas under the covering of five sugarcane sticks. The five sugarcane sticks indicate the Panchatattva (earth, water, fire, air and space) the human is body made up of.

On the early morning of the fourth day (Paarun), devotees along with their family and friends offer Bihaniya Aragh at the ghat of riverbank of Gange. Devotees end their festival through breaking the fast by having the Chhath prashad.

 

Six levels of purification in Chhath ( a belief)

The belief of fast and cleanliness of body on the festival identify the detoxification of the body and mind in order to set up the body and mind to accept the cosmic solar energy.

Standing in water with half of the body inside the water diminishes the escape of energy as well as facilitates the prana to elevate to the sushumna.

Then the entrance of cosmic solar energy takes place in the pineal gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus (known as the Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

In the 4th stage Triveni complex gets activated.

After activation of the Triveni complex, spine gets polarized and body of devotee gets transformed into a cosmic powerhouse and gets the Kundalini Shakti.

At this stage the devotee is fully able to conduct, recycle and pass on the energy into entire universe.

  

Benefits of the rituals (a belief)

Devotee of the Chhath puja can improve the immunity of body.

A variety of skin infections can be cured through the safe radiations of sunlight.

It increases the fighting power of blood by improving the performance of WBC.

Solar energy provides the power to control the secretion of hormones.

 

Significance

Chhath puja has a special significance during the Sunrise and Sunset periods. The Sunrise and sunset are the most important periods of the day during which a human body can safely get the solar energy without any harm. That’s why there is a myth of offering the Sanjhiya Arghya and Bihaniya Arghya to the Sun at the Chhath festival. During this period the solar energy has low level of ultraviolet radiations so it is safe for the human body. People perform the Chhath puja in order to thank the Lord Sun for the lives on the earth as well as to get blessings.

The ritual of Chhath puja provides mental calmness (by detoxifying the body and mind), enhances the energy level and immunity, reduces the frequency of anger, greed and jealousy as well as lot of negative emotions. It is also believed that following the Chhath processes helps in slowing down the ageing process. Such beliefs and rituals of the Chhath make it the most significant festival in the Hindus ever.

 

[ Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath and www.varanasi.org.in/chhath-pooja ]

  

Vishwa Shanti Yoga School ( Shobahana Yog Sadan) offers one and two weeks Yoga Retreats. The course includes Asanas, Pranayama Meditation Practice, Wellness – Nutritive and Preventive Health Care Classes, Ayurveda Massages, Naturopathy, Detoxification and Spirituality. Practitioners also have chances to experience the Himalayan trek and river rafting (as per the availability). Natural vegetarian food and comfortable accommodation are added benefit to practice Yoga in full sense.

  

Yoga Teacher Training in India

 

Shobhana Yog Sadan || Yoga Teacher Training in India || Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh || 100 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || Yoga Retreats in India || Yoga Courses for Beginners in India || Ayrveda Retreats in India

 

Vishwa Shanti Yoga School

Yoga Teacher Training in India || 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India || Yoga Retreats in India || Yoga Courses for Beginners in India || Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh || 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh || 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh || 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh

 

The MLD process involves a light vibratory touch to encourage the lymphatic fluid flow toward the main lymphatic ducts and back into the blood system.

When the flow of lymphatic elements is reduced, the immune system weakens. Lymphatic drainage can help improve the production and flow of antibodies, thus better empowering the immune system and assisting in detoxification and relaxation.

A tea seller on road.

  

My Experience of Chhath

I am a permanent resident of Kolkata, but I never witnessed the celebration of Chhath Pooja here. Lakhs of migrant residents from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states of India and Nepal as well, celebrated their most ancient festival along the bank of river Hoogly, the sacred river that flows through the city. On 6th November this year, around 2pm, I went to a famous ghat on the bank of river Hoogly opposite to Eden gardens. It was an unique photographic journey to witness how people performed their rituals with so much devotion and faith. I saw hundreds of devotees sitting on the banks quietly with their offerings to Sun God and some performing their rituals with half of their bodies immersed in the Ganges, and some with fire, called ‘Homas’. I was closely looking at them, and I was amazed by their dedication, devotion and complacency. Thousands of devotees were found proceeding towards the Ganges with their offerings, all cladded in bright clothes and ornaments, and many were found on their way to lay prone on the roads touching their whole body (Ashtanga or eight parts of the body) on the Earth and performing ‘Dondis’(Surya Namaskara -Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार, Sun Salutation). Many of the family members, including newborn kids were found lying on the roads waiting for the main worshipper of the family to crossover their bodies as a way to get blessings from them. Most of the main family worshippers were found to be the eldest ladies of the family. Through Chhath, I rediscovered my religious India, in a new and beautiful way.

  

Chhath Pooja

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival of worshiping Sun God, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.Historically it is native to eastern Uttar Pradesh, North Bihar of India and Mithila State of Nepal.The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.The God is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is also believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. Environmentalists claim that Chhath is the most eco-friendly Hindu festival.

 

Regions Celebrating Chhath

Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal,Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP, it is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, as well in various countries worldwide.

 

Timings

Chhath puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in Bengali calender. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian English Calendar.

  

History

The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites. It is assumed that the oldest Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional pooja of the Lord Sun. They used to chant the ancient Rigveda texts and a variety of hymns for worshiping the God. In the ancient time of Mahabharata Chhath pooja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandavas of Hastinapur (present Delhi) for solving their instant problem and regaining their lost kingdom. It is also assumed that the Chhath puja was first started by the Surya Putra (son of Sun God) Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during the Mahabharata period.

 

Ethymology

The word chhath means sixth in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri languages and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.

The Goddess who is also worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the beloved younger wife of Surya, the sun god. The rituals signify rising sun as well as setting sun.

 

Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja

It is believed that worshipers of the Chhath take holy bath and follows a period of abstinence and become separate for 4 days from the main family. Throughout the period he is believed as the pure spirit and sleep on the floor having single blanket.

Devotees offer prasad to Sun at the Chhath such as sweets, Kheer, Thekua, bananas and other fruits included in a small bamboo tokari. The prasad is cooked without salt, onions or garlic with maintained purity. It is a four days festival which includes:

On the first day, devotees take bathe early in the morning in the holy water of Gange and bring some holy water to their home to prepare the offerings. The home and its surroundings should be cleaned at this day. They take only one meal a day known as kaddu-bhat cooked only by using the bronze or soil utensils and mango woods over the soil stove.

On the second day, the day before Chhath, devotees keeps fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after sunset after the worship of Sun. They offer Rasiao-kheer, puris, fruits in the puja. After taking meal in the evening, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours.

On the third day (day of Chhath) they offer the Sanjhiya Arghya at the ghat of riverbank. After Arghya, they wear the single saree of turmeric color. Other family members are waiting for getting the blessings from worshiper. At the night of Chhath a vibrant event of Kosi is celebrated by lighting the lamps of clay diyas under the covering of five sugarcane sticks. The five sugarcane sticks indicate the Panchatattva (earth, water, fire, air and space) the human is body made up of.

On the early morning of the fourth day (Paarun), devotees along with their family and friends offer Bihaniya Aragh at the ghat of riverbank of Gange. Devotees end their festival through breaking the fast by having the Chhath prashad.

 

Six levels of purification in Chhath ( a belief)

The belief of fast and cleanliness of body on the festival identify the detoxification of the body and mind in order to set up the body and mind to accept the cosmic solar energy.

Standing in water with half of the body inside the water diminishes the escape of energy as well as facilitates the prana to elevate to the sushumna.

Then the entrance of cosmic solar energy takes place in the pineal gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus (known as the Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

In the 4th stage Triveni complex gets activated.

After activation of the Triveni complex, spine gets polarized and body of devotee gets transformed into a cosmic powerhouse and gets the Kundalini Shakti.

At this stage the devotee is fully able to conduct, recycle and pass on the energy into entire universe.

  

Benefits of the rituals (a belief)

Devotee of the Chhath puja can improve the immunity of body.

A variety of skin infections can be cured through the safe radiations of sunlight.

It increases the fighting power of blood by improving the performance of WBC.

Solar energy provides the power to control the secretion of hormones.

 

Significance

Chhath puja has a special significance during the Sunrise and Sunset periods. The Sunrise and sunset are the most important periods of the day during which a human body can safely get the solar energy without any harm. That’s why there is a myth of offering the Sanjhiya Arghya and Bihaniya Arghya to the Sun at the Chhath festival. During this period the solar energy has low level of ultraviolet radiations so it is safe for the human body. People perform the Chhath puja in order to thank the Lord Sun for the lives on the earth as well as to get blessings.

The ritual of Chhath puja provides mental calmness (by detoxifying the body and mind), enhances the energy level and immunity, reduces the frequency of anger, greed and jealousy as well as lot of negative emotions. It is also believed that following the Chhath processes helps in slowing down the ageing process. Such beliefs and rituals of the Chhath make it the most significant festival in the Hindus ever.

 

[ Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath and www.varanasi.org.in/chhath-pooja ]

  

Ricohflex New Dia, Fuji Neopan Acros 100II, F5.6, 1/400sec, 千葉県, 船橋市

A worshiper on her way to Sun salutation.

  

My Experience of Chhath

I am a permanent resident of Kolkata, but I never witnessed the celebration of Chhath Pooja here. Lakhs of migrant residents from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states of India and Nepal as well, celebrated their most ancient festival along the bank of river Hoogly, the sacred river that flows through the city. On 6th November this year, around 2pm, I went to a famous ghat on the bank of river Hoogly opposite to Eden gardens. It was an unique photographic journey to witness how people performed their rituals with so much devotion and faith. I saw hundreds of devotees sitting on the banks quietly with their offerings to Sun God and some performing their rituals with half of their bodies immersed in the Ganges, and some with fire, called ‘Homas’. I was closely looking at them, and I was amazed by their dedication, devotion and complacency. Thousands of devotees were found proceeding towards the Ganges with their offerings, all cladded in bright clothes and ornaments, and many were found on their way to lay prone on the roads touching their whole body (Ashtanga or eight parts of the body) on the Earth and performing ‘Dondis’(Surya Namaskara -Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार, Sun Salutation). Many of the family members, including newborn kids were found lying on the roads waiting for the main worshipper of the family to crossover their bodies as a way to get blessings from them. Most of the main family worshippers were found to be the eldest ladies of the family. Through Chhath, I rediscovered my religious India, in a new and beautiful way.

  

Chhath Pooja

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival of worshiping Sun God, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.Historically it is native to eastern Uttar Pradesh, North Bihar of India and Mithila State of Nepal.The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.The God is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is also believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. Environmentalists claim that Chhath is the most eco-friendly Hindu festival.

 

Regions Celebrating Chhath

Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal,Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP, it is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, as well in various countries worldwide.

 

Timings

Chhath puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in Bengali calender. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian English Calendar.

  

History

The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites. It is assumed that the oldest Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional pooja of the Lord Sun. They used to chant the ancient Rigveda texts and a variety of hymns for worshiping the God. In the ancient time of Mahabharata Chhath pooja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandavas of Hastinapur (present Delhi) for solving their instant problem and regaining their lost kingdom. It is also assumed that the Chhath puja was first started by the Surya Putra (son of Sun God) Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during the Mahabharata period.

 

Ethymology

The word chhath means sixth in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri languages and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.

The Goddess who is also worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the beloved younger wife of Surya, the sun god. The rituals signify rising sun as well as setting sun.

 

Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja

It is believed that worshipers of the Chhath take holy bath and follows a period of abstinence and become separate for 4 days from the main family. Throughout the period he is believed as the pure spirit and sleep on the floor having single blanket.

Devotees offer prasad to Sun at the Chhath such as sweets, Kheer, Thekua, bananas and other fruits included in a small bamboo tokari. The prasad is cooked without salt, onions or garlic with maintained purity. It is a four days festival which includes:

On the first day, devotees take bathe early in the morning in the holy water of Gange and bring some holy water to their home to prepare the offerings. The home and its surroundings should be cleaned at this day. They take only one meal a day known as kaddu-bhat cooked only by using the bronze or soil utensils and mango woods over the soil stove.

On the second day, the day before Chhath, devotees keeps fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after sunset after the worship of Sun. They offer Rasiao-kheer, puris, fruits in the puja. After taking meal in the evening, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours.

On the third day (day of Chhath) they offer the Sanjhiya Arghya at the ghat of riverbank. After Arghya, they wear the single saree of turmeric color. Other family members are waiting for getting the blessings from worshiper. At the night of Chhath a vibrant event of Kosi is celebrated by lighting the lamps of clay diyas under the covering of five sugarcane sticks. The five sugarcane sticks indicate the Panchatattva (earth, water, fire, air and space) the human is body made up of.

On the early morning of the fourth day (Paarun), devotees along with their family and friends offer Bihaniya Aragh at the ghat of riverbank of Gange. Devotees end their festival through breaking the fast by having the Chhath prashad.

 

Six levels of purification in Chhath ( a belief)

The belief of fast and cleanliness of body on the festival identify the detoxification of the body and mind in order to set up the body and mind to accept the cosmic solar energy.

Standing in water with half of the body inside the water diminishes the escape of energy as well as facilitates the prana to elevate to the sushumna.

Then the entrance of cosmic solar energy takes place in the pineal gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus (known as the Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

In the 4th stage Triveni complex gets activated.

After activation of the Triveni complex, spine gets polarized and body of devotee gets transformed into a cosmic powerhouse and gets the Kundalini Shakti.

At this stage the devotee is fully able to conduct, recycle and pass on the energy into entire universe.

  

Benefits of the rituals (a belief)

Devotee of the Chhath puja can improve the immunity of body.

A variety of skin infections can be cured through the safe radiations of sunlight.

It increases the fighting power of blood by improving the performance of WBC.

Solar energy provides the power to control the secretion of hormones.

 

Significance

Chhath puja has a special significance during the Sunrise and Sunset periods. The Sunrise and sunset are the most important periods of the day during which a human body can safely get the solar energy without any harm. That’s why there is a myth of offering the Sanjhiya Arghya and Bihaniya Arghya to the Sun at the Chhath festival. During this period the solar energy has low level of ultraviolet radiations so it is safe for the human body. People perform the Chhath puja in order to thank the Lord Sun for the lives on the earth as well as to get blessings.

The ritual of Chhath puja provides mental calmness (by detoxifying the body and mind), enhances the energy level and immunity, reduces the frequency of anger, greed and jealousy as well as lot of negative emotions. It is also believed that following the Chhath processes helps in slowing down the ageing process. Such beliefs and rituals of the Chhath make it the most significant festival in the Hindus ever.

 

[ Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath and www.varanasi.org.in/chhath-pooja ]

 

Yellow bulgarian pepper, tomatoes, carrots, salad and radish on black background, lightpainting

The global concern about victims of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant implosion leaves a big question unanswered: Do Americans have to worry about radioactive fallout from Japan?

 

www.insights-in-ink.com

www.newyoumag.com

 

I am a Shia Muslim in mourning for the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain Grandson of The Holy Prophet , who was ruthlessly murdered by the Terrorists of Yazid the Caliph Of Umayad Dynasty..We wear black clothes , in my case I only wear black clothes or tiger prints ,,,I stopped wearing vibrant colors since I became a Malang a semi Sufi Monk in my case.

We are very strict about our mourning and austere in our emotions that is now centered around Ghame Hussain and the Unforgettable Tragedy of Imam Hussain at Karbala.

 

Neither do I attend any Sufi Urus in the month of Moharam...or any Hindu feast...the Chhhath Puja I have documented passionately as a tribute to the Bihari Mumbaikars of our city , but this year I kept away from their celebrations ,,,

 

This picture was shot last year ,Chhath Puja 2012 that took place the next day after the sad demise of Shree Balalasaheb Thackeray..

  

About Chhath Puja

from Wikipedia

 

Chhath (Hindi: छठ, also called Dala Chhath) is an ancient Hindu festival and only Vedic Festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya, also known as Surya Shashti.[1] The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.[2] The Sun, considered the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders.

The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and aragh to the setting and rising sun.

Although it is observed most elaborately in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern UP and the Terai regions of Nepal in modern times, and is more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence, it is celebrated in all regions and major urban centers in India. The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat,[3] Delhi,[4] Mumbai[5] and Mauritius.[6]

 

Chhath puja is performed on kartika Shukala Shashti, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in the Hindu Calendar. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian Calendar.

It is also celebrated in the summer (March–April), on Chaitra Shashti, some days after Holi; this event is called Chaiti Chhath.[7] The former is more popular because winter is the usual festive season in North India, and Chhath, being an arduous observance, requiring the worshipers to fast without water for around 36 hours continuously, is easier to undertake in the Indian winters.

 

[edit]Etymology

The word chhath denotes the number 6 in Hindi[8] and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of KARTIKA. The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.

[edit]History

 

It is believed that the Maga Purohits (modern days known as Shakya Dwipi Brahmins) were invited by local kings for their expertise in Sun worshiping. They started the tradition of Chhat Puja. Today Chhat Puja is celebrated specially in those places where Shakya Dwipi Brahmins are found.

It is believed that the ritual of Chhath puja may even predate the ancient Vedas texts, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun god and describes similar rituals. The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites.

In the poem, Draupadi and the Pandavas, rulers of Hastinapur (modern Delhi), performed the Chhath ritual on the advice of noble sage Dhaumya. Through her worship of the Sun God, Draupadi was not only able to solve her immediate problems, but also helped the Pandavas later regain their lost kingdom.

It is also believed that Chhath was started by Karna, the son of Surya (Surya Putra Karna). Surya Putra Karna ruled over the Anga Desh (present day Bhagalpur district of Bihar) during the Mahabharat Age. He was a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War.

Its yogic/scientific history dates back to the Vedic times. The rishis of yore used this method to remain without any external intake of food as they were able to obtain energy directly from the sun's rays. This was done through the Chhath method.[9] The chhat puja is very popular in Darbhanga, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Madhuvani and Dehri-On-Sone (Rohtas),Patna, Dev & Gaya.Nowadays it is celebrated in approximately all parts of India. Chhath Pooja is also celebrated in Mangalore, Karnataka. People from Bihar & UP celebrate Chhath Pooja on Panambur Beach.

[edit]Chhathi Maiya

 

It is also said that the Goddess that is worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the consort of Surya, the sun god. Some scholars are of the view that she is only the beloved of Surya and some suggest that She is Surya’s wife.

Usha is the term used to refer to dawn – The first light of day. But in the Rig Veda she has more symbolic meaning. Symbolically Usha is the dawn of divine consciousness in the individual aspirant.

During the Chhath Puja, Chhathi Maiya is invoked to bless us with this divine consciousness which will help us to overcome all the troubles in the world – this bless will help us to Moksha or liberation.

[edit]Rituals and traditions

 

Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping,that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket.

This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any pandit (priest). The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.

Bihar has a number of Sun temples, flanked by a surajkund or sacred pool of the Sun, forming a popular venue for the celebration of this festival. Ara, Muzaffarpur,Patna,Bhagalpur,Chapra,Munger, Haveli Kharagpur ( Banahara, Prasando),,Samastipur,Dumka,Sahibganj, Dev, Gaya, Ranchi,Hazaribagh,Rampurhat are known popular for chhath puja.

The main worshipers, called Parvaitin (from Sanskrit parv, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, a large number of men also observe this festival. The parvaitin pray for the well-being of their family, and for the prosperity of their offsprings. Once a family starts performing Chhatt Puja, it is their duty to perform it every year and to pass it on to the following generations. The festival is skipped only if there happens to be a death in the family that year.

The prasad offerings include sweets, Kheer, Thekua and fruit offered in small bamboo soop winnows. The food is strictly vegetarian and it is cooked without salt, onions or garlic. Emphasis is put on maintaining the purity of the food.[10]

Day 1: Nahay khay (literally, bathe and eat)

On the first day of Chhath Puja, the devotees take a dip, preferably in the holy river Ganges, and carry home the holy water of the river Ganges to prepare the offerings. The house and surroundings are scrupulously cleaned. The parvaitins allow themselves only one meal on this day.It is also known as " kaddu-bhat" in some region.Generally Parvaitin eat kaddu, channa dal, and arwa chawal (non-boiled rice). Traditionally the food is cooked on an earthen stove & mango wood is used as fuel. Only, preferably, new bronze or earthen utensils are used to prepare the food. If old utensils are used, non veg should never have been cooked in it. But nowadays steel utensils are also used in preparation of the food.

Day 2: Kharna or Lohanda (the day before Chhath)

On Panchami, the day before Chhath, the parvaitins observe a fast for the whole day, which ends in the evening a little after sunset. Just after the worship of earth, the offerings of Rasiao-kheer (rice delicacy), puris (deep-fried puffs of wheat flour) and bananas, are taken to break the fast. No sugar is used, only jaggery is used to sweeten the kheer . This is then distributed among family and friends. From this day on wards, for the next 36 hours, the parvaitin goes on a fast without water.

[21]People also make idol of Sama and Chakeba festival on Kharna Day, and play Sama Chakeba till Kartik Purnima.

The prasad is prepared by the parvaitin herself in the bronze or earthen ware utensil only. While eating the prasad by parvaitin if any unwanted thing like small stone etc. comes into the mouth immediately they have to stop eating without making any complain. The rice should therefore be clean. There should be no sound

Day 3: Chhath

Sanjhiya Arghya(ghat) (evening offerings): The day is spent preparing the prasad (offerings) at home. Those who help, also take a bath and fast till all the prasad is made. The wheat is washed and dried and even birds are not supposed to touch it. The mill is washed before grinding. On the eve of this day, the entire household accompanies the parvaitins to a riverbank, pond or a common large water body with the Thekuas fruits, etc to make the offerings (Aragh)of milk to the setting sun. It is during this phase of Chhath Puja that the devotees offer prayers to the just setting sun, while the parvaitin chants the [{Gayatri Mantra}]. Traditionally during the aragh the parvaitin should be dressed like a bride and wear a plain saree with border colored with turmeric. But nowadays printed colored sarees are also in use.

The occasion is almost a carnival. Besides the parvaitin, there are friends and family, and numerous participants and onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshipper. Ritual rendition of regional folk songs, carried on through oral transmission from mothers and mothers-in-law to daughters and daughters-in-law, are sung on this occasion.

The folk songs sung on the evening of Chhath reflect the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Nowadays, modern Chhath songs, largely Bollywood film remixes, have caught on, but the old tradition still goes strong with a great degree of sanctity. The three main linguistic regions of Bihar (the Maithili, the Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri), and all the various dialects associated with these, have different folk songs; but have an underlying unity in their dedicated to Chhath. The minor nuances of the Chhath rituals, such as in the Kharna ritual, vary from region to region and across families, but still there is a fundamental similarity.

Kosi: On the night of day three, a colorful event of Kosi is held. Here, lighted earthen lamps are kept under a canopy of five sugarcane sticks. The five sticks signify the human body made of Panchatattva (the five great elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether). This is a symbolic ritual in Chhath Puja, performed especially in those families where marriage or childbirth has taken place recently. The lighted lamps signify the solar energy sustaining the human being. People perform this ritual at home, during late evening on day three after making the offering to the just setting sun. After that, it is done at the banks of the river on day four before making the offerings to the rising sun.

Day 4: Paarun (the day after Chhath)

Bihaniya Aragh(ghat) (next morning offerings): On the final day of Chhath Puja, the devotees, along with family and friends, go to the riverbank before sunrise, in order to make the offerings (Aragh) to the rising sun. The festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the parvaitin and friends visiting the houses of the devotees to receive the prashad. The chhath has so much importance that even millionaire beg for prasad at the Chhath ghat. This symbolizes that all persons are beggar in front of the almighty. Witnessing Chhath being celebrated at the crack of the dawn on a river bank is a beautiful, elating spiritual experience connecting the modern Indian to his ancient cultural roots. After aragh, Ganga maiya is worshipped.

[edit]Yogic viewpoint

 

There is also a yogic process of Chhath that may have been associated with the religious observance of Chhath puja. All the traditional rules of Chhath puja have also got some strong scientific reasons behind it & by following that maximum benefits can be gained.

[edit]The Yogic Philosophy of Chhath

According to yogic philosophy, the physical bodies of all the living organisms are highly sophisticated energy conducting channels. The solar bio-electricity starts flowing in the human body when it is exposed to solar radiations of specific wavelengths. Under particular physical and mental conditions, the absorption and conduction of this solar-bio-electricity increases. The processes and the rituals of the Chhath puja aim at preparing the body and the mind of the Vratti (devotee) for the process of cosmic solar energy infusion.[citation needed]

The scientific process similar to Chhath was used by the Rishis of yore for carrying out their austerities without any intake of solid or liquid diet. Using a process similar to the Chhath puja, they were able to absorb the energy needed for sustenance directly from the sun, instead of taking it indirectly through food and water.

The retina is a kind of photoelectric material, which emits subtle energy when exposed to light. Hence, very subtle electric energy starts flowing from the retina. This energy (photo-bio-electricity) is transmitted from the retina to the pineal gland by the optic nerves connecting the retina to the pineal gland, leading to its activation. The pineal gland is in close proximity with the pituitary and hypothalamus glands (together, three glands are called Triveni) due to which, the energy generated in this process starts impacting these glands. Consequently, the pranic activity becomes uniform, giving the Vratti good health and a calm mind.

[edit]Stages of Chhath (Conscious Photoenergization Process)

According to Yoga philosophy, the process of Chhath is divided into six stages of the Conscious Cosmic Solar Energy Infusion Technique (Conscious Photoenergization Process).[11]

Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy.

Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine).

Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

Stage 4: Activation of Triveni tri-glandular complex (pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus).

Stage 5: A kind of polarization happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s (devotee) gross and subtle bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti.

Stage 6: The body of the Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel which conducts, recycles and transmits the energy into the entire universe.

[edit]Benefits of Chhath process

The Chhath process results in detoxification

The Chhath process stresses mental discipline. The discipline of mental purity is a result of this work. By employing a number of rituals, the vrattis focus on maintaining the cleanliness of the offerings and environment. Cleanliness is the most dominant thought that prevails in the minds of all the devotees during Chhath.

This has a great detoxification effect on the body and the mind as mental moods can result in biochemical changes. Now comes the physical detoxification. The fasting paves the way for detoxification at a material level.

Detoxification helps in regularizing the flow of prana and makes the person more energetic. The natural immune system of the body spends much of its energy in fighting the toxins present in the body. By using the detoxification methods such as pranayam, meditation, yoga and Chhath practices, the amount of toxins present in the body can be reduced to a great extent. Thus, with reduction in the amount of toxins, the expenditure of energy also reduces and you feel more energetic. It improves the appearance of the skin. The eyesight can improve and the ageing process of the body slows down.

[edit]Benefits of Chhath Puja

Photo-electro-chemical effect: physical benefits

The Chhath practice improves the immunity of the Vratti’s body.

Antiseptic effect: Safe radiation of sunlight can help cure fungal and bacterial infections of the skin.

Raktavardhak (increase in fighting power of blood): As a consequence of the practice of Chhath, the energy infused in the blood stream improves the performance of white blood cells.

The solar energy has a great influence on the glands, which results in balanced secretion of hormones.

Energy requirements are met by the solar energy directly. This will further detoxify the body.

Photo-electro-psychic effects: mental benefits

A state of creative calmness will prevail in the mind.

To a great extent, all negative responses have their origin in the disturbed flow of prana. With the pranic flow regularized, the duration and frequency of occurrences of anger, jealousy, and other negative emotions will be reduced.

With patient and sincere practice, the psychic powers like intuition, healing, and telepathy awaken. This depends on the concentration with which the practice is undertaken.

[edit]Daily sun meditation (Chhath process)

In the fast lifestyle of the present times, it may not be possible to follow the Chhath process very often. The detoxification can be undertaken through pranayam, yoga, meditation and Conscious Photoenergization Process known as Chhath Dhyan Sadhana (CDS).

Chhath Dhyan Sadhana (CDS): Conscious Photoenergization Process

Assume a comfortable position (standing or sitting) with back and spine straight. With eyes closed, face the Sun. Inhale completely, as slowly as possible. Do not strain in making the breathing slow. Maintain your comfort level. As you breath in, visualize (feelingly experience) the cosmic solar energy entering through your eyes and moving to the pineal gland through optic nerves and charging the pineal–pituitary–hypothalamus complex. Now, as you exhale, visualize the cosmic solar energy flowing down the pineal gland and spreading throughout your body with a revitalizing effect.

Thus, the process starts with inhalation and ends in exhalation. This constitutes one round. It is suggested to start with five rounds (two minutes), and increase it time permitting. On completion of the practice, thank the Sun for bestowing upon you the life giving solar energy. Thereafter, sit quietly for a minute, observing the good things in the environment around.

CDS should be practiced within one-hour window after sunrise or within one-hour window before sunset. Any person of any age can practice CDS. If you wish to practice CDS at any time other than sunrise or sunset, do not practice it in front of Sun. You can however, practice CDS in a room. Even a bed-ridden person can try and consciously draw in the solar energy while lying on the bed. With regular practice, he/she will notice an improvement in physical and mental health. For those who are not comfortable facing the sun, they can practice the technique in any room having proper ventilation. If you have time, you can also practice it twice a day. Do not hurry in increasing the number of rounds, as there are no shortcuts to success in this method. The nervous system of the body takes its own time in adapting and to be able to receive the energy.

Significance of emphasis on sunrise and Sunset periods

Only sunrise and sunset are the periods during which the majority of humans can safely obtain the solar energy directly from the Sun. However, there may be some exceptions. That is why, in Chhath puja, there is a tradition of offering Arghya to the Sun in late evening and in early morning. During these phases (one hour window after sunrise and before sunset), the ultraviolet radiation levels remain in safe limits.

 

In healing layouts A Quartz Crystal Point carried or worn is said to stimulate psychism. Placed beneath the pillow it is used to create psychic impulses throughout the deep conscious mind as dreams, and to ensure peaceful sleep. Quartz crystal is said to relieve headaches and toothaches and if held in the hand to relieve fevers. It may be placed on parts of the body in pain to rebalance and remove blockages. In Crystal Healing Clear Quartz Crystal is known to be a cleansing tool and said to clear impurities and psychic debris from the energy field that permeates the human body. It can realign and refocus the body, mind, and spirit toward clear goals and increase power of concentration, and focus, amplifying whatever thoughts have been programmed into it.

 

In Magic Crystal Quartz has been used for thousands of years. It has been used to magically create rain, and produce the sacred fire. The Cherokee Shamans kept it wrapped in buckskin when not in use and it is a common part of shaman's power bags or medicine bundles. In shamanistic terms the quartz crystal is the shaman and the shaman is the crystal. Its magical uses include Power, Protection, Healing, Phsycism, and Lactation. It is said that Wiccans wear quartz, because it is Goddess-symbolic. A small quartz crystal point is placed in healing sachets to increase their magical effectiveness. Wiccans will magically guard their herbs when growing them by placing a small quartz crystal in the soil. It is said one may purify and cleanse their crystals by passing sage lightly over them in a cleansing ritual. Some Wiccans may use a crystal purification incense that including an already purified quartz crystal, and herbs grown in a magically protected garden.

  

Jade is used to balance and support the energy of the kidneys and lymphatic system. It is used to calm the nervous system and ease over-excitement as it is linked emotionally with the heart chakra, enabling the sharing of unconditional love with all beings. It is said to encourage peace and abundance when placed in the home. Jades magical uses include love, healing, longevity, wisdom, protection, gardening, prosperity, and money. Jade is believed to have power over the weather. It was once known to be thrown into water to bring mist, rain, or snow, and is also said to attract love. Jade is also used in magic to bring money and is said in to be effective for improving the health of plants. Jade may be worn or carried when harvesting herbs to ensure protection of the herbs, a good harvest, and in the practice of Wicca Jade is used to increase the herbs magical potency. Rhodonite is used to soothe inflammation and support liver function and assist detoxification. It is also used to help rheumatoid arthritis and to ease shock; heal wounds -both physical and emotional- and to help the reproductive system. It is used on the heart chakra to heal emotional wounds and can be placed over the throat chakra to help the expression of unconditional love. Fluorite is helpful to gain structure and to help prioritize. It symbolizes changing chaos into order. Fluorite encourages logic and helps to balance the mind. Meditating with fluorite may bring peace and it may be placed in the bath to experience its calming effects. It is said to ease emotional stress and to help decision making. And if worn may bring peace and joy. In magic Fluorite is said to reduce emotional involvement in order to gain perspective, and is useful for theorizing. It is used to quell anger, and depression. Carnelian is used to speed up the healing process. It may help improve increase vitality and strength. It is said to purify the blood and improve circulation, and bring courage when facing personal challenges. Carnelian may be placed on the lower abdomen to energize the sacral and root chakras and is placed in the bath or worn over the heart for warmth and support. Tigers Eye is used to link the energy of the solar plexus chakra, to clear mental blocks and encourage focus on current issues. It supports the metabolism and prevents physical energy form becoming depleted. Tigers Eye may be used to make a gem remedy by placing a piece in a glass of fresh water and leaving it in the sun for one hour, then taking it out and drinking the water to support clear vision. Pyrite is used to clarify mental processes, and diminish confusion, and shed light on problems. It supports the immune system and is known to help with male sexual or infertility issues. In healing layouts, it is placed over the solar plexus area in the middle of the ribs or held in the right hand to balance masculine energy. It may be placed under the rib cage to assist detoxification. Pyrite may be placed in the office to help stay focused and to detoxify the environment. Onyx Is used in healing to help balance the demands of everyday life with the need to find rest and new inspiration. And helps restore the system. It is used to encourage inner stillness and helps focus during meditation. Onyx may energize the feet and legs, working on the root chakra. In healing layouts one may place Onyx between the feet or hold a piece in each hand or over the lower abdomen at root-chakra level to ground and stabilize the physical and energetic systems. It may be worn or carried to improve the balance between work and personal life. In magic onyx is used for protection and defense against negativity.

 

Clear Quartz, Carnelian, Tigers Eye and Onyx all have a Crystal Matrix as Seekers/Simplifiers and their Earth Powers are as Transformers. Seekers are most often used to aid in pointing the way to our desires in which to aquire what we do not yet have. Their energy structure is that which aligns the crystal to the human mind which helps to find and simplify, as to put forth with minimal effort in order to achieve goals.

 

Rhodonite has a Barrier Crystal Matrix and a Harmonizer Earth Power. And Fluorite has an Enhancer Crystal Matrix and its Earth Power is as a Brightener. Pyrites an Enhancer Crystal Matrix and a Mirror Earth Power. Jade has a Guardian/Dreamholder Crystal Matrix and its Earth Powers are bonding, making it great for getting consensus, working out contracts, and negotiating.

 

Latin name - Cantharanthus roseus

Some of the health benefits of Sadabahar, periwinkle or vinca rosea plant are :

 

The leaves and stems are a source of alkaloids that have anti tumor and anti cancer properties.

The leaves are used to control diabetes and high blood pressure.

The alkaloids also offer sedative and tranquilizing properties.

It relieves muscle pain and depression.

Because of its property of detoxification and counteracting poison it is used to relieve wasp stings.

Sadabahar controls nosebleeds, bleeding gums, mouth ulcers and sore throats.

It is useful in treating gastritis, cystitis, enteritis, diarrhea, diabetes, etc when taken internally.

The vinca rosea plant ensures brain health. Its active ingredients improve blood supply to the brain, increase the level of oxygen that the brain can utilize. It also raises serotonin levels and prevents abnormal coagulation of blood.

The alkaloid vincamine keeps the blood thin and has memory enhancing properties. It is therefore useful in preventing dementia, especially vascular dementia.

The charm of film and the elegance of Japan: the ideal combo.

 

My digital detoxification continues, with some satisfaction. Here are some shots of the slow passing of our weekends.

 

LEICA M6

VOIGTLANDER Nokton 35MM f / 1.4 MC

KODAK 400TMAX

Last life signs in front of a former clinic for drug detoxification. The house has been empty for years and is at the mercy of decay . . .

Blessings to a married lady.

  

My Experience of Chhath

I am a permanent resident of Kolkata, but I never witnessed the celebration of Chhath Pooja here. Lakhs of migrant residents from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states of India and Nepal as well, celebrated their most ancient festival along the bank of river Hoogly, the sacred river that flows through the city. On 6th November this year, around 2pm, I went to a famous ghat on the bank of river Hoogly opposite to Eden gardens. It was an unique photographic journey to witness how people performed their rituals with so much devotion and faith. I saw hundreds of devotees sitting on the banks quietly with their offerings to Sun God and some performing their rituals with half of their bodies immersed in the Ganges, and some with fire, called ‘Homas’. I was closely looking at them, and I was amazed by their dedication, devotion and complacency. Thousands of devotees were found proceeding towards the Ganges with their offerings, all cladded in bright clothes and ornaments, and many were found on their way to lay prone on the roads touching their whole body (Ashtanga or eight parts of the body) on the Earth and performing ‘Dondis’(Surya Namaskara -Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार, Sun Salutation). Many of the family members, including newborn kids were found lying on the roads waiting for the main worshipper of the family to crossover their bodies as a way to get blessings from them. Most of the main family worshippers were found to be the eldest ladies of the family. Through Chhath, I rediscovered my religious India, in a new and beautiful way.

  

Chhath Pooja

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival of worshiping Sun God, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.Historically it is native to eastern Uttar Pradesh, North Bihar of India and Mithila State of Nepal.The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.The God is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is also believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. Environmentalists claim that Chhath is the most eco-friendly Hindu festival.

 

Regions Celebrating Chhath

Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal,Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP, it is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, as well in various countries worldwide.

 

Timings

Chhath puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in Bengali calender. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian English Calendar.

  

History

The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites. It is assumed that the oldest Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional pooja of the Lord Sun. They used to chant the ancient Rigveda texts and a variety of hymns for worshiping the God. In the ancient time of Mahabharata Chhath pooja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandavas of Hastinapur (present Delhi) for solving their instant problem and regaining their lost kingdom. It is also assumed that the Chhath puja was first started by the Surya Putra (son of Sun God) Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during the Mahabharata period.

 

Ethymology

The word chhath means sixth in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri languages and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.

The Goddess who is also worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the beloved younger wife of Surya, the sun god. The rituals signify rising sun as well as setting sun.

 

Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja

It is believed that worshipers of the Chhath take holy bath and follows a period of abstinence and become separate for 4 days from the main family. Throughout the period he is believed as the pure spirit and sleep on the floor having single blanket.

Devotees offer prasad to Sun at the Chhath such as sweets, Kheer, Thekua, bananas and other fruits included in a small bamboo tokari. The prasad is cooked without salt, onions or garlic with maintained purity. It is a four days festival which includes:

On the first day, devotees take bathe early in the morning in the holy water of Gange and bring some holy water to their home to prepare the offerings. The home and its surroundings should be cleaned at this day. They take only one meal a day known as kaddu-bhat cooked only by using the bronze or soil utensils and mango woods over the soil stove.

On the second day, the day before Chhath, devotees keeps fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after sunset after the worship of Sun. They offer Rasiao-kheer, puris, fruits in the puja. After taking meal in the evening, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours.

On the third day (day of Chhath) they offer the Sanjhiya Arghya at the ghat of riverbank. After Arghya, they wear the single saree of turmeric color. Other family members are waiting for getting the blessings from worshiper. At the night of Chhath a vibrant event of Kosi is celebrated by lighting the lamps of clay diyas under the covering of five sugarcane sticks. The five sugarcane sticks indicate the Panchatattva (earth, water, fire, air and space) the human is body made up of.

On the early morning of the fourth day (Paarun), devotees along with their family and friends offer Bihaniya Aragh at the ghat of riverbank of Gange. Devotees end their festival through breaking the fast by having the Chhath prashad.

 

Six levels of purification in Chhath ( a belief)

The belief of fast and cleanliness of body on the festival identify the detoxification of the body and mind in order to set up the body and mind to accept the cosmic solar energy.

Standing in water with half of the body inside the water diminishes the escape of energy as well as facilitates the prana to elevate to the sushumna.

Then the entrance of cosmic solar energy takes place in the pineal gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus (known as the Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

In the 4th stage Triveni complex gets activated.

After activation of the Triveni complex, spine gets polarized and body of devotee gets transformed into a cosmic powerhouse and gets the Kundalini Shakti.

At this stage the devotee is fully able to conduct, recycle and pass on the energy into entire universe.

  

Benefits of the rituals (a belief)

Devotee of the Chhath puja can improve the immunity of body.

A variety of skin infections can be cured through the safe radiations of sunlight.

It increases the fighting power of blood by improving the performance of WBC.

Solar energy provides the power to control the secretion of hormones.

 

Significance

Chhath puja has a special significance during the Sunrise and Sunset periods. The Sunrise and sunset are the most important periods of the day during which a human body can safely get the solar energy without any harm. That’s why there is a myth of offering the Sanjhiya Arghya and Bihaniya Arghya to the Sun at the Chhath festival. During this period the solar energy has low level of ultraviolet radiations so it is safe for the human body. People perform the Chhath puja in order to thank the Lord Sun for the lives on the earth as well as to get blessings.

The ritual of Chhath puja provides mental calmness (by detoxifying the body and mind), enhances the energy level and immunity, reduces the frequency of anger, greed and jealousy as well as lot of negative emotions. It is also believed that following the Chhath processes helps in slowing down the ageing process. Such beliefs and rituals of the Chhath make it the most significant festival in the Hindus ever.

 

[ Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath and www.varanasi.org.in/chhath-pooja ]