The scientific Indian thali - Indian meals, nourishment, nutrition

The traditional Indian plate is a nutritionally balanced meal. Regardless of regional variances, Indian cuisine is rich with nourishment. Here’s an anatomical breakdown of how our thali has the perfect combination of carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre.

Rotis and rice: These carbohydrates are made from different wholegrains like wheat, makai ka atta, jowar, bajra, nachni and brown rice. Whole-grains help prevent heart and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure problems and also provide a healthy dose of B vitamins, complex carbohydrates and fibre. Grain preparations like phulkas, theplas, dosas, biryani, pulao, khichdi and pongal provide us all the vital nutrients we need.

Dals: All the legumes and dals like rajma, chhole, moong and tur dal etc., can be prepared in various ways. Every thali has a dal in some form that nourishes us with vital protein to build and repair our body’s cells.

Vegetables: No Indian meal is complete without a healthy dose of vegetables. The rainbow of vegetables in every thali provide us with iron, folic acid and calcium and give our bodies tons of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre to keep our digestive systems healthy.

Ghee and Oil: Though not highly visible, ghee also makes its way into the meal as a little smidgen on top of a roti or rice. While it may be taboo to speak of fat and health in the same breath, ghee actually does wonders for both body and mind. It adds taste and flavour, aids di-gestion, lubricates our joints, nourishes our skin, rejuvenates the liver and calms the mind!

Depending on the region, oil is used in cooking and it is usually groundnut, mustard, coconut or sesame. Our bodies need different kinds of essential fats and these oils provide us with vital mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fat. Our meals, if made correctly will have the perfect balance of required fats.

Yoghurt and buttermilk: These not only cool the body but also help us digest the array of food in our thali. Yoghurt has friendly bacteria that lines the intestines and gut and enables better digestion.

Pickles and condiments: When made right and eaten in small quantities, pickles and chutneys are essential digestive aids that stimulate the palate and release digestive juices.

Spices: Packed with antioxidants, phytochemicals and essential healing oils and properties, spices help lower cholesterol, combat heart disease, prevent various cancers, reduce body inflammation and muscular aches and pains, enhance digestion and rejuvenate every bodily function!

The writer is a Mumbai based nutritionist
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/supplementary/sunday-chronicle/scientific-indian-thali-930

Greatness Of The Vedic Vedas Knowledge Perfect Science Part 1 of 6

Greatness Of The Vedic Knowledge. Perfect Science which has everything humans need to know. Perfect Science!!! Many things which were discovered many thousands of years later by Western science, which have been already stated in the Vedic scriptures.

This knowledge has been coming down in forum of disciplic succession by word of mouth. Till recently it was written down about 5000 years ago when this Yuga of great hardship started when human values have been degraded by so many things.
All Written by a perfect person who himself created all this laws and manifestation of Earth and countless planets, which we cannot imagine with our little brains. Dont be stupid do your own research if you want to know more.
Now the time your human body is limited in time so get moving time to inquire about the truth.

Eight Americans Welcomed into the Sanatana Dharma Tradition

Press Release

June 1, 2008

Omaha, NE, USA

In a historic religious event that occurred on Saturday, May 31, 2008, eight Americans were formally welcomed into the ancient tradition of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) in a sacred initiation (diksha) ceremony at the Hindu Temple of Nebraska.

The ceremony was overseen by Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya (Dr. Frank Morales, Ph.D.), the Resident Acharya (Spiritual Preceptor) of the temple, and Professor Alekha Dash, who conducted the traditional fire ceremony (yagya) central to any authentic Hindu initiation rite.

Though Hinduism is not a religion that overtly seeks converts, many Americans and Europeans have nonetheless enthusiastically embraced the tradition in the past. This represents one of the first times in history, however, that such a large number of Americans have been welcomed into the tradition at one time.

In accepting Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya as their guru (spiritual teacher), these newly committed American Hindus vowed to devote themselves to living a Dharma lifestyle, to meditate upon God each day, and to express compassion toward all they encounter.

Included among the new initiates were: two professors, a practicing psychiatrist, a retired lawyer, and a nurse, among others.



First Non-Indian Women Awarded with Brahmana Thread

In a related historical development, Ms. Heather "Tulasi" Mortensen was awarded brahmana initiation during the same ceremony, and awarded with a sacred thread. Though traditionally Hindu women were known to have been given sacred threads during Vedic times, this practice came to a stop at some point in the history of Hinduism. Thus, this thread-giving ceremony (known as upavita-samskara in Sanskrit) represents the very first time in world history that a non-Indian women has been awarded such a sacred thread. Sri Acharyaji stated to the large audience observing this event that "I know that this historic precedent is only the beginning of the reclamation of an ancient and important Vedic tradition. My hope is that this represents only the first of many thousands of women who I will see awarded the sacred thread in my lifetime."

The two hour event was followed by a celebration dinner in the temple's auditorium.



For further information, please visit:

http://www.dharmacentral.com/

History of Hindu Religion

Hinduism has no founder and therefore it is difficult to pinpoint a particular period as the beginning of Hindu religion. In reality the history of Hinduism is lost in the obscure misty millennia of ages past.1
It must be noted that the term ‘Hindu’ and ‘Hinduism’ is not found in any of the important ancient religious texts associated with Hinduism. The word ‘Hindu’ came into being with the arrival of Muslims invaders. They called the people who lived along the Sindhu River as ‘Hindu’ and the place ‘Hindustan.’ The term Hindu and Hinduism was first widely used by the British.
The Hindu word for religion is Dharma i.e one that holds society together from disruption and disintegration.2 So for a Hindu religion is ‘Sanatana Dharma’ – The eternal religion.
The earliest evidence of Hinduism is found in the Indus Valley civilization (3300–1700 BC). Several figurines unearthed from here are 3-faced indicating them to be the forerunner of Hindu trinity and some quite similar to Lingas – the worshipping form of Lord Shiva.
But it must be understood here that the cultural level and style of living of the people of Indus Valley Civilization was of the highest kind and it cannot be attained overnight. They might have attained such high level through steady progress over the years. So it would be right to say the earliest seed of Hinduism was laid hundreds of years before Indus valley civilization flourished.
Next controversy is regarding the arrival of Aryans which traditional historians say happened between (2000 – 1000BC). This again is challenged by several scholars. Aryans were a nomadic people and they brought with them their forms of worship and integrated with those already existing. Aryans were mainly nature worshippers.
Another important factor the traditional historians ignore, when dealing with the History of Hinduism is the existence of Dravidians. The Dravidians had their form of worship which is quite similar to modern day Hinduism.
As we dig for the history of Hinduism it only adds to the existing confusion.
Most historians shy away from fixing a particular period mainly because their claims will be easily challenged by other scholars. Each and every theory regarding the origin of Hinduism has been challenged and it is an ongoing controversy. Hinduism believes that everything is from ‘Brahman,’ which is without a beginning and end. And therefore it is futile to search for the origin.

Bibliography
1, 2 - A Concept of Hinduism (T.K.Mukundan, Published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan)

Sun enter into Leo - time to channelize energies to achieving your most important goals

On August 17 2010, the royal Sun enter into Leo, and stays there for 30 days. The Sun is at home in Leo, since it is the sign ruled by Sun. Whenever a planet transits into its own sign, the energies that the planet emits are extravagant. So, this is the time to channelize the increased vitality in your life for achieving your most important goals.

The Sun is the God – whom everyone can see, perceive and pray. The Sun in astrology called Ravi or Surya. He is the life-giver and time-giver. He is the lord of Leo in the zodiac. He stays one month in each rasi and takes 365 days or 12 months to complete a round of Rasis. Worship of this God on Sunday is supposed to bring in manifold benefits to the worshippers.

He has two wives, Sanjana and Chhaya. The first one is the daughter of Vishwakarma. After her marriage she found that she could not bear the power of this god’s rays. She therefore, made an image of her own, imparted life to it and left it with Surya the Sun god. Later on she turned into mare and was adopted bu Surya again.

Surya has several sons. The lawgiver, Manu, the lord of death, Yama and the river Yamuna were born of Sanjana. According to Mahabharata, the great warior Karna was this god’s illegitimate son by Kunti, the mother of Pandavas. Surya is also the father of the monkey chief, Sugriva, who was the ally of Lord Rama.

Wake up every day at least 1 hour before Sun rise and practice Surya namaskaram (Sun salutation exercise) follow by chanting ‘Hmmm Surya Namaha’ mantra 108 times during Sun rise if you want success in every sphere of your life, showers of material comforts and builds your reputation in career. You can also chant or listen to Aditya Hrudayam everyday for this 3o days from August 17 2010.
-By Vijayakumar Allagappan

You can listen to Aditya Hrudayam in earlier posting below.....