Birth of Lord Krishna; japa; Ayurvedic herbs

The Adiveda Weekly #13

Aug 14, 2022

Hari Aum Sadhakas!

It’s Krishna Janmashtami on 18th August, the day that Lord Vishnu descended on earth as the purnavatara – Sri Krishna. The story of Lord Krishna’s life has thrilled the hearts of all those who have been fortunate enough to have heard it. That is why despite the fact that he existed more than five thousand years ago, the tale is still as delightful and exciting as it was during his own lifetime.

The Hindu way of life

For thousands of years, Indians have believed in the divinity of Sri Krishna. But questions have constantly haunted us as to whether Sri Krishna was a historical character or a mythical one and whether the history of India and the story of Krishna and the Pandavas as given in the Mahabharata actually took place or were only figments of Vyasa’s fertile imagination. Of course, the British took pains to show us that this was indeed so and that the Indians had no history of their own and all our Puranas were only myths. Unfortunately, the intelligentsia of our country were happy to believe this and all the history taught in Indian schools even today is meant to put down our ancient culture.

Luckily, this century, which is famous for its thirst for investigations, has unearthed many astonishing facts. These investigations prove, for those who need proof, that our scriptures were absolutely correct in their description of the fabulous city of Dwaraka, which was built by Krishna as the stronghold of the Yadavas. They also prove that Krishna was indeed the superman or supreme incarnation of God as our scriptures declare.

Reflection of the week

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “Whatever form my devotee worships with faith, I enter into that form and make his faith firm so that all his desires are fulfilled from that very form.”

For your everyday practice

Always chant your mantra.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna tells his beloved friend Arjuna that in the age of Kali, the chanting and remembrance of the names of God is the most powerful means of crossing the ocean of material existence. Most mantras must be chanted only at specific times, but one’s Guru mantra can be chanted at all times – even while doing everyday mundane jobs like driving, working, eating, cooking, walking etc.

For your health and well-being

Herbs with affinity for the heart.

There are many herbs that can be taken that have a great affinity for the heart. Some of these herbs act as tonics, others are anti-hypertensive, some are antiarrhythmic, and others combine a variety of actions. Hibiscus, a flowering plant that is abundant in Asia, is especially helpful for hypertension. Rauwolfia, a herb commonly used in Ayurveda – and now also in the West – is another herb with affinity for the heart with anti-hypertensive effects. If you would like to use herbs as a support to your cardiovascular health, do reach out to a skilled practitioner who would be able to guide you accordingly.

By Dr. Poorna Menon, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

From Vanamali Mataji’s desk

Krishna was born at midnight in the dungeon on the 8th day of the dark phase of the lunar fortnight in the month of Bhadra about five thousand years ago. He was the eighth son of his parents Devaki and Vasudeva who were scions of the Yadava clan. As soon as the baby was born, he gave a vision of himself as Vishnu to his parents and told his father to take him to the cowherd settlement called Gokula. Miraculously, Vasudeva found that the dungeon doors opened of their own accord and he was able to transfer the baby to the house of Nanda, chief of the cowherds, whose wife Yashoda had just delivered a baby girl. The babies were exchanged and Vasudeva brought back the girl-child to the dungeon in the same miraculous fashion.

Krishna grew up in Gokula and later in Vrindavana till the age of twelve. As a man, he was a Mahayogi, the greatest of all yogis, totally unattached, having complete mastery over himself and nature, capable of controlling the very elements, if need be. His miracles were only an outflow of his perfect unity with God and, therefore, with nature.