Love is one of them, if not the most beautiful things in the world. It is the element that gives meaning to life. Even animals feel love, some birds and animals are unable to move from the demise of their partners and even throw away their lives in their memory. Till this time there were many individuals whose incredible story remains today as a treasure as well as the symbol of love itself. Among those individuals, there is one story that goes beyond everything, which is the love of Radha Krishna.
Lord Krishna is the eighth form of Lord Maha Vishnu who incarnated into this world to free the world from evil. Lord Krishna from the moment of his birth killed many demons in his lifetime and gave the ultimate knowledge of Geeta to prince Arjun so that he could defeat the evildoers in the ultimate war of Mahabharata. Lord Krishna had many purposes he needed to fulfill in his lifetime.
Sometimes, the battle strength and the role of Krishna in the war of Mahabharata tries to outshine the role of Krishna in spreading the love and bond he spread. He only took out the weapons when there was no other way, and he already tried every possible way to keep the situation calm without using any kind of violence.
Love of Radha Krishna shows what level of affection Lord Krishna was capable of showing when one showed true and unconditional love towards him. In various civilizations, many overcome their endeavors, elevated themselves from the state of selfishness and achieved selflessness towards their love, and had a great impact on the world of unconditional love. However, from Hindu mythology the greatest love there was and there will be is the Love of Radha Krishna.
Radha and Krishna
Radha and Krishna have been friends since their childhood. Krishna was born in a cage where his parents were kept by Kansa. However, by getting help from Devi Yogmaya Krishna was transported to Vrindavan in the house of Nanda and Yasoda. Radha also lived with her parents in the same village. They were friends in the beginning but in the meantime, with age, their friendship turned into love. Their love was so pure and true that after thousands of years and in other Yoga also they are the symbol of love. Even today if some show deep affection towards their partner people say that their love is like that of the Love of Radha Krishna.
Time with Radha
Lord Krishna and Radha used to spend time together in Vrindavana when the Lord was small and used to herd the cattle of the village. In the meantime, the unconditional Love of Radha Krishna blossomed. The entire village, forests, rivers, and surroundings were blossoming with the magical and eternal affection that the two of them shared. They were inseparable from each other, and they were always the topic of talk to everyone. When the Lord was scolded and punished for his pranks Radha would feel the pain that the Lord felt.
The tragedy and the call of duty
Lord Krishna incarnated in this world to protect the Dharma and free the world from evildoers and the evil itself. However, the Love of Radha Krishna came between the duties of Krishna. Lord wanted to be with his love but couldn’t do so in the presence of his duty for he arrived on the earth. So, at the age of 11 years, Lord Krishna left Vrindavana and went to Mathura to kill Kansa.
Flute of Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna is always depicted as a man with a flute in his hand. However, the lord only played his flute when he was little. At the time he left Vrindavan he also left his flute forever. He used to play flute for his love Radha. The music and melody sang the love of Radha Krishna. However, at the time of departure from Radha, he also gave up his purpose to play the flute and left it forever. He sang for his love and never after.
Radha, Krishna, and marriage
Lord Krishna had many wives and lovers during his lifetime. He had quite a lot of looking at the number of wives he had. However, despite this, he did not marry his true love who was Devi Radha. Many stories say why Krishna did not marry Radha. However, after departure from Vrindavana, there is hardly any mention of Radha in the rest of the story of the life of Lord Krishna.
The love of Radha Krishna was so pure and intense that they became one. Marriage is the process of binding two individuals, however, since Radha and Krishna had become one. How can someone marry oneself? That was the love of Radha Krishna.
Some also say that Radha was Krishna himself. The Maya and beauty of Krishna were so captivating, beautiful, and complete in themselves that even Lord himself could not escape its beauty and got captivated by it in the form of Devi Radha. However, when the time of duty arrived, he took Radha back inside himself.
Whatever may be the case the Love of Radha Krishna remains and will remain immortal in our hearts.
Traditions and cultures are important aspects of our life. They are the rituals that had been passed to us from generations. Some of these rituals had started thousands of years ago according to history and mythologies. Many things represent a ritual and the tradition that possesses those rituals. They may have a specific cloth that they wear for the tradition, specific food that they eat, and a specific day of the year for that ritual. Hinduism also has made its mara as it is very rich in cultures and traditions.
They have many special food items for special rituals. Also, as there are more than 2 billion Hindus living in various parts of the world, they all have various unique traditions unique to their own region. Panchamrit may be the ritual food that may be common for almost all of them. In some places, the ingredients may slightly differ for panchamrit but it is a compulsory item required in Yagya and puja.
What is Panchamrit?
Panchamrit is made by the combination of two words, the first one is Pancha and the second one is Amrit. In Sanskrit, Pancha means five and Amrit is the special nectar that the gods drink in heaven which keeps them immortal and gives them divine strength.
Panchamrit like the divine nectar of the gods does not provide the immortal life but it is named so because it is made by the combination of the foods that are considered extremely healthy and are the source of great energy.
Ingredients for Panchamrit
Panchamrit is made for prasad in most of the pujas. Almost all Hindus make this prasad in various Yagya and pujas. The number of Hindus in the world is huge and most of them reside in the southern part of Asia, in the countries like Nepal and India. Due to the regional difference and variations in the culture people living in the various parts of the place use various types of ingredients.
In Nepal, people make Panchamrit as Prasad and use the ingredients milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sakkhar.
In Northern India, people make Panchamrit by using Jaggery (Tulsi) in the place of Sakkhar while other ingredients milk, curd, ghee, and honey remain the same.
Also, the variation of ingredients occurs in other parts of India also. In Tamil Nādu Panchamrit is made of banana, ghee, honey, Tulsi, and cardamom.
There are some variations in the making of panchamrit but the key ingredients like milk, ghee, honey, and curd are almost compulsory in all of the regions. Whatever the ingredients may be, their prime quality is that they are natural ingredients that are made from natural processes and not from industrial processing. Another quality that the ingredients share is that they are full of healthy nutrients, vitamins, and high in energy.
The elements
Let’s know about the 5 elements of Panchamrit in detail. They each play a key role in the life of people. The five elements are as follows:
Milk
Milk is an extremely rich nutritious liquid that is produced by mammals through their mammary glands to feed their young ones. When the mammal gives birth to their young ones their mammary gland also goes through a lot of changes as so do their bodies. From the moment of birth, they start to produce milk for their young ones. They consume no other food for some time and are only dependent on their mother’s milk.
In this world, there is almost no human that does not know the role of milk in their life. They are very nutritious and are consumed by all mammals. Human children consume the milk of their mothers while adults consume the milk of animals like cows, Buffaloes, goats, and some other animals. Milk has various elements that give it the first spot as a nutritious food. Nowadays, milk is also available in powder form and goes through various processing techniques. However, it still cannot match the nutritional value of the fresh milk from the mammary gland of the mammals.
Milk is not just for little infants but is very healthy for adults also. People consume the milk of various mammals and get various essential nutrients and minerals from them. Also, it is the chief ingredient in the formation of Panchamrit. For the making of Panchamrit, only cow milk is used. While the milk of buffalo and other mammals is also very nutritious and healthy for the making of Panchamrit only cow milk is used. This is because in Hinduism a cow is the holiest animal, and its milk is also considered as sacred. In the Hindu family, if they have a cow, they are worshipped each day in the morning, that is how holy cows are to them and their milk is also very sacred.
Curd
In simple terms, curd is one of the products that is made from milk. It went through the process where it transforms and gains new qualities that are different from milk in general. It is the final product of the transformation of milk if the goal is making curd. However, it is the first step in making ingredients like cheese and paneer. Milk goes through the process of coagulation to form the curd. In this process, the protein and minerals of milk come together to form coagulation and come together to form the solid mass which we know as the curds.
The process can be done by adding external elements such as old curd, or other mediums to promote the process. However, this process also completes naturally even if you leave the milk for 1 to 2 days. To make better quality curd people add external agents as just leaving it overnight may decrease its quality.
The second element of Panchamrit is curd. It has a different quality than milk and gets some major change. For instance, unlike milk, which is a perfect liquid, it is a semi-liquid as it is a coagulated mass. It is good for bones and skin and provides good digestion for the people who consume it.
Ghee
It is the third element in making Panchamrit. The ghee for making Panchamrit is also obtained from the cow. As the cow is considered the holiest animal in Hinduism the necessary equipment is made from cow milk. This element is also the product of milk. It is refined butter. The process begins when the milk is turned into curd. At first, butter is separated from the curd, then the butter is heated to separate ghee from butter. After heating for some time, it melts into ghee.
Ghee is one of the ingredients in making food, it can be used in the place of oil or for various culinary purposes. It is believed to be one of the most beneficial ingredients, it is used with proper care and cautiously. It is the final step of the conversion of milk in the direction of ghee. After turning to ghee, the transformation of milk has stopped.
Pure ghee looks yellow in color and is soft. In the winter it turns into a hard solid while in the summertime it may be liquid or semi-liquid depending upon the temperature of the environment.
It is the third element in the making of Panchamrit. Unlike curd and milk, it may not dissolve in the mixture immediately in the making of Panchamrit. After the addition of ghee, we have added more than half of the elements in the process of making panchamrit.
Ghee is one of the important parts of Ayurveda also. Various treatments are done through the medium of ghee. It is also beneficial for consumption. It is a thing that is rich in Vitamin A, Linoleic acid, and omega 3 fatty acid. Ghee is also rich in essential fats that are very beneficial to the body. Too much ghee may make your body obese but the right amount as a medicine can do wonders for your body.
Honey
Honey is a substance that is made by bees, and which possesses a sweet taste, and is viscous in nature. Bee stores honey in a wax-like structure after collecting nectar and pollen from the flowers. Honey is the fourth element in the making of Panchamrit. It is very popular among people due to its taste and its various health benefits. At first, honey was only available in the forest and the wild bees collected them. In the process of civilization, people took those wild bees and domesticated them.
Ever since the start of civilization honey has been with us on our journey. It is extremely healthy as it is natural and is made from flowers. Also, the honey possesses the qualities of the flower from which most of the nectar is collected so there are many types of honey with various properties. It when consumed protects from the cold and provides the needed nutrients to the body. It is very easy to consume even by children and it is viscous in nature, and even the digestion of children can easily break it down. Also, the taste makes it the favorite of children.
Honey in panchamrit comes with all its medicinal quality and taste. It gives panchamrit sweet taste and all of its health benefits. Unlike the proportion of milk and curd, honey and ghee are added in less amount. Add honey to the point when panchamrit gives a little bit of a sweet taste, as more than that is not needed.
Shakkhar (Sugar)
It is the final element in making panchamrit. After adding it the process of making Panchamrit is completed. Many people may not know what shakkhar is. Let’s first know what shakkar is. It is sugar but unlike the industry manufactured sugar it is homemade ayurvedic sugar. It is made by boiling sugarcane juice. The sugarcane juice is poured into a bowl, and it is heated till the juice solidifies and turns into a semi-solid mass which after cooling turns into a solid mass. It has a dark chocolate-like appearance and is very sweet. It is also an ayurvedic item alongside one of the key ingredients in the process of making Panchamrit.
Many articles say that processed and industry-manufactured sugar is harmful to the body, and we should reduce the amount of industry sugar we consume. Industrial sugar indeed has various disadvantages and in the long term harms the body in many ways. However, Shakkar is not like processed sugar and is different in many ways. The first is that instead of depleting the body of nutrients, it gives the body various nutrients and minerals. It is rich in minerals like zinc, iron, and magnesium.
Like ghee and honey, it is also added in little proportion. It also like honey adds a sweet taste to panchamrit. After the addition of shakkhar to panchamrit the process of making panchamrit is completed.
The process of making panchamrit:
As the recipe of Panchamrit varies according to the region the making of the panchamrit also varies according to the place. However, since the base elements are almost the same so they may not differ that much.
First assemble all the elements that we are going to need to make Panchamrit which are milk, ghee, curd, honey, and shakkar. Then put another empty bowl near it on which the mixture of panchamrit is going to be made. The amount of ingredients that are needed will vary according to the amount of panchamrit we are going to make. However, the proportion of the elements will be the same no matter how much we are going to make. Let’s talk about making a cup of panchamrit.
Add half a cup of Panchamrit to the empty bowl, then add another half cup of curd to the mixture. Then stir for a bit. We are going to stir the bowl with a spoon after the addition of each element to get a better mixture. Then add one spoon of each of the three elements. First, add ghee, then honey, and then shakkar. Also, the mixture should be stirred after the addition of each of these. If you prefer a sweeter taste, then you can add more honey or shakkar to the mixture. After the addition of the final element stir the mixture for some time. This completes the process of making Panchamrit for various puja and rituals.
Happiness is a feeling that arises when you hear know something good is being happened. When you get what you desire, you will be happy. Getting chance to stay with a favorable person makes one happy. But the company of unflavored person makes sad. Desired behavior and activities from the people around our surrounding make us happy. But if people show their unwanted behavior and activities, it snatches our happiness. If we see any good thing, it makes us happy. Achieving success makes one happy. We always want good, nice, beautiful, and so on. As and when we happened to get contact with unwanted issue or matters, we become unhappy. Our happiness is depending on these external matters and issues. These things have become the key to lock or unlock our happiness. However, these keys are not under our control. So, happiness, aroused from external situation and matter, is not under our control. So, this type of happiness, acquired by external matters and issues, is not real happiness. The happiness which is ephemeral cannot be a real happiness. The happiness which is eternal, which does not get affected by an external situation, which has nothing to give and take in outside environment; such happiness is considered to be the real happiness.
There is some biochemical process when we are happy. There is happiness hormone released during our happiness. The important happiness hormones are endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. When we come to the contact of happy news or circumstances, these hormones start activating. And secretion of these hormones makes the person happy. So, the real cause of happiness is secretion of these hormones. Some people suffering from depression, anxiety, stress etc. have no secretion of these hormones, no matter what a happy news or situation they face. Thus they can never be happy. From this, we can conclude that happiness is the product of biochemicals. It is the matter of inner world rather than that of the external world. Now the question arises- how are these hormones secrete? The simple answer is a balanced and healthy life. Again a question arises- how can a balanced and a healthy life be achieved? There are various methods for it. Let us talk about them.
Secret 1: Yoga and meditation: Regular practice of yoga and meditation helps to keep the body active and healthy, and mind peace and happy. It eliminates diseases and maintains the good functioning of the body. It helps to meet the goal of life.
Secret 2: Right Food: Of course, food should be nutritious and healthy with correct way and time of eating. But this is not sufficient. The food we eat must be from right earning. The food earned from unwholesome act makes the blood profane, degrades the level of mind. Earning by harming other is said to be a wrong way of earning. Only right food can keep one happy secreting happiness hormones and providing good health.
Secret 3: Right Aim: Working with the wrong intention takes the person to the misery. Speak or act with the wrong aim, it brings only misery. The aim which is against the goodness of others and oneself is the wrong aim. Any ambition which creates or promotes other and oneself wellness is a wrong aim.
Secret 4: Right Effort: No matter we have right aim, but we also should have the right way to achieve it. Achieving the aim through the wrong way of effort can never give happiness. Let’s say our aim is to bring peace in the country. This is right aim because peace is necessary for all. But, If we engage in unnecessary war in the name of peace, then we never achieve peace. War has always negative effects for both teams.
Secret 5: Creative task: We have to be engaged in a creative task in free time. It removes boredom and stress. It decreases Alzheimer’s diseases, heart diseases, depression etc. It keeps away from negative thoughts providing a way to perceive the world positively. Creative activities achieve the source of happiness. Engaging in a creative task helps to regenerate brain cells, awakens inactive portion of the nervous system.
Secret 6: Company with better people: Our habits, attitudes, and way of thinking turn into the style of the company with whom we stay. Company with wrong people makes us negative and company with better people makes us positive.
Secret 7: No expectation from others: We have a habit of expecting from others. Whenever our expectations do not get fulfilled we become sad. Depending on other, hoping something from other gives sadness as our home may not be fulfilled always. It doesn’t mean to be hopeless. It means to say that we should be self-dependant. Besides, we should not be affected by others behavior. Being affected by others’ behavior is to give the key to our happiness to them. People behave and act as per the level of their mind. You have nothing to give and take from the status of others’ mind. So be neutral in their behavior and activities.
Patanjali has given the most beautiful technique of yoga in his famous book Yoga Sutra. He arranged yoga in a scientific manner making easy to understand and practice. He explained human psychology and managed yoga accordance of the psychological state of people. Brittis are the main cause of the fluctuation of our mind so we have to remove all our Brittis to attain salvation. He separated Chitta Brittis in different five types. Explaining yoga Patanjali stated that “Yogaschittabriti Nirodha.” Yoga is removing of fluctuation of the mind. The five Brittis are as follows:
Pramana (Correct knowledge)
Viparyaya (Incorrect knowledge)
Vikalpa (Imagination or fantasy)
Nidra (Sleep)
Smrti (Memory)
The states of our mind can lead us to the destination of different points of their nature. The real knowledge can overcome the fluctuation of our mind. Yoga can maintain the peace of our mind. Five Brittis of our mind can teach how our mind works. If we understand the trick of our mind, we can understand what is real and what is not. To get rid of all the Brittis, we have to practice yoga in our life. Explanation of five Brittis of Chitta:
1.Pramana (Correct knowledge):The word Pramana means the evidence in Sanskrit language, so the real meaning of Pramana is the knowledge which is based on the evidence. Pramana is the knowledge of the reason and logic. Pramana is the knowledge which is based on the direct experience. There are two kinds of knowledge in the world, first one is direct and second is inference which is based on the imagination.
According to Patanjali, the knowledge doesn’t have to be perceived by the five senses but we have to see the practical application in our life of the knowledge. The valid knowledge is the best. We don’t have to believe the knowledge which is said by others. We have to experience the knowledge by ourselves. We have to perceive the real knowledge. We have to distinguish the real and unreal knowledge.
In total, we can say that the real knowledge is the knowledge of our experience. Any of the knowledge is neither real nor unreal but the knowledge becomes real if the knowledge can help us in our practical life.
2. Viparyaya (Incorrect knowledge): sometimes we think that something is correct but if we go into the deep study, we realize that the knowledge is not correct. The incorrect knowledge, which seems to be correct, is called Viparyaya. We imagine something by our limited knowledge to be the real appearance when our illusion disappears, we can understand the reality of the things.
The knowledge which is gained by our five senses is unreal but seems to be very real. Most of the person of the world think real which can be sensed by our five senses but in reality, the knowledge by five senses is not real. When we practice yoga and get enlightened, we know the supreme reality. The supreme reality cannot be affected by the situation.
We may think to swim in the river is very easy but in reality, we can’t swim in the real. Sometimes, we can think the task is very easy from the surface but the reality becomes too hard because we can’t perform the activities in real. So, we have to recognize the reality of the world in the path of spiritual journey. We have to see everything as they are.
3. Vikalpa (Imagination or fantasy):Vikalpa is imagination which we create in our mind by ourselves. This is the truth that we think something is real by our fantasy. Our life becomes whatever we think about our life. If we think life is hard, life will be really hard in the reality. Our subconscious mind doesn’t analyze either something is real or not but it follows what our conscious mind guides it. If we think ourselves as a successful person in our life, we become successful because there into limitation to be successful in our life. If we think we are happy in our life, we become happy in our life. There is not an absolute reality for our subconscious life but in spirituality, our journey begins to the search for the ultimate reality.
In this world nothing is real but all the realities are as our mind creates they are. Our search should go to the search for real knowledge of the universe.
4. Nidra (Sleep):Nidra is the deep sleep which is the state of our mind in which all the thoughts and ideas absent. If we can sleep soundly, we can be refreshed after we wake up from our sleep. In our sleep, we forget our knowledge, everything about ourselves. If unnecessary thoughts disturb us, we can’t sleep well. If we can’t sleep well, we can’t awake in the fresh mood. We cannot be healthy and happy. We have to rest properly and wake up with new inspiration in our life. We don’t indulge in the daydreaming. We have to be aware all the time to walk in thepath of enlightenment.
The disturbed mind can’t awake during the day and can’t sleep soundly at the night. We have to overcome all the fluctuations of our mind to be in the path of the higher goal of our life, i.e. yoga. Stress disturbs us in the path of purification.
5. Smrti (Memory):Memory is the way which leads us to the past. By memory, we can be lost in the past days of our life. We can be happy by remembering the happy moments of the past or we can be unhappy by remembering our sad past events. By the vehicle of the memory, we start to live in our past rather than at the present. We think that we should do that and shouldn’t do that in the past. We become trapped in the past and can’t go ahead in our life. Past can’t be corrected so we have to forgive our past and start our journey to the higher achievement. Past can make us crippled and stop us from our purpose of our life.
In reality, we have to be the audience of all types of Brittis of our mind. We don’t have to be attached with any of those Brittis because they can’t lead us to the higher level of spiritual growth. We have to make still our mind by practicing yoga on a regular basis in our life.
The purpose of yoga is to make people aware of their way of life wherever and whoever they are. To make them able to differentiate between what is real and what is fake knowledge. Patanjali focuses on the factor that we don’t have to hang up on unnecessary activities thinking that they are real.
There are many asanas which directly or indirectly helps to burn the calorie faster. Among them, following asanas are important to burn the calorie. The right yoga asana with proper alignment help to lose 180 to 600 calories per hour.
Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)
This is an important asana to burn the calorie. In Chaturanga Dandasana, the palms and toes are fixed on the floor; the body is parallel to the floor without touching the floor with the body. The elbows are bent and placed along the side of the body. Try to stay in the pose for 30 seconds or more.
Contradiction: Avoid the pose if you are suffering from wrist, shoulder or back injury. People with Carpal Tunnel syndrome symptoms should practice only with well guidance of an experienced teacher.
2. Kumbhakasana (plank pose)
For this asana, fix the palm and toes on the ground keeping the body straight and erect. It requires entire muscles to hold the position which results to burn the calories. Kumbhakasana strengthens and tones hands, arm, shoulders, back, buttocks, abs, and thighs. .
Precaution: Similar to Chaturanga Dandasana.
3. Chakrasana (wheel pose)
For Chakrasana, lie down on a mat, place the feet near to buttock and palms on the ground behind the shoulder; then lift up the body. It stretches the entire body (especially front portion). You can observe the engagement of the buttocks, legs, shoulders, arms, and thigh. Just staying for 15 seconds, you can burn at least 20 calories. If possible, better to increase the duration gradually.
Precautions: Avoid the asana, or consult with yoga master if there is- Diarrhea, hernia, Blood pressure, Heart problem, pregnancy, pain in wrist, ankle, and spine.
4. Utkatasana (chair pose)
Utkatasana engages and stretches the largest muscles in the body. So it burns a lot of calories. For Utkatasana bent knees, keeping the body straight raise up the hands and stretch. Try to hold this position for 15 seconds or more.
For Dolphin pose, fix the hands and feet on the ground. The head should be on the floor between the hands. The leg should not be bent. Ardha pincha mayurasana gives pressure and engages triceps, thighs, and core. This engagement helps to burn calories faster.
Precaution: If you have an injury on shoulder or neck keep the legs bent while practicing the pose.
6. Dhanurasana (Upward wheel pose or Bow pose):
Halasana burns 3.05 calories per minute. For plow pose, lie flat and with inhalation lift up the legs and waist. Exhale and try to keep the foot on the ground. Legs should be straight. Hold the pose for 10 or more breaths. For advanced practice, hold it for more than 10 minutes.
Precaution: If you have the problem of liver or spleen disorders, asthma or hypertension, then practice it only under the supervision of an experienced trainer.
Avoid this pose during following conditions:
Diarrhea, Menstruation, Pregnancy and Neck injury
7. Utthita ashwa sanchalanasana or high lunge pose
It needs maximum effort and a lot of balance. It makes your body work harder to hold the pose. So, it burns the calories. Normally we begin this pose in Adho Mukha Svanasana. Step right foot forward between the hands with exhalation. Inhale and move the hands upwards with left leg straight back. Exhale and bent the body backward.
Precaution: Avoid the pose if you have high blood pressure and knee injuries. Do not raise arms above the head if you have shoulder problems, instead place hands on front thigh. Do not bend back if you have neck or spinal injuries.
8. Plow Pose II (Halasana II)
Halasana burns 3.05 calories per minute. For plow pose, lie flat and with inhalation lift up the legs and waist. Exhale and try to keep the foot on the ground. Legs should be straight. Hold the pose for 10 or more breaths. For advanced practice, hold it for more than 10 minutes.
Precaution: If you have the problem of liver or spleen disorders, asthma or hypertension, then practice it only under the supervision of an experienced trainer.
Avoid this pose during following conditions:
Diarrhea, Menstruation, Pregnancy and Neck injury
9. Surya Namaskar (sun salutations):
Surya Namaskar includes 12 asanas in a round: Pranamasana, Hastauttanasana, Hasta Padasana, Ashwa Sanchalanasana, Dandasana, Ashtanga Namaskar, Bhujangasana, and Parvatasana; four of them are repeated in a round. It is found that 12 rounds of Surya namaskar can burn about 80-90 calories. The combination of these asanas gives complete exercise to the entire body. One should balance the respiration as well in Surya Namaskar.
Precaution: Avoid Surya namaskar during High blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke, hernia, intestinal tuberculosis, menstruation. If you have other than these and also facing difficulty to practice it then consult to an experienced teacher.
Besides asanas, there are three important pranayama Kapalbhati, Bhatika and Anulom-vilom to burn the calorie. It is found that Kapalbhati burns 4 kCal in 7 minutes, Bhastika burns 2 kCal in 2 minutes and Anulom-Vilom burns 3 kCal in 6 minutes.
Siddhi (सिद्धि) is a Sanskrit word which means perfection or accomplishment. All the religions have a belief in supernatural powers. They have described different types of powers in their own words. Hindu philosophy has explained 8 major siddhis called Ashta Siddhi (Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Isitva, and Vasitva) and 10 minor siddhis.
Anima- one on Ashta Siddhi
The power to minimize the size of the body, even to the size of the atoms, is termed as Anima Siddhi. It is the availability to become smaller than the smallest. For example, Hanuman had subtilized his body in the time to search Sita in Lanka.
Mahima
Mahima is one among Ashta Siddhi. It is the ability to increase the size of the body as desired. It is also described as “the power to become larger than the largest”. Lord Krishna had increased his body size in the course of Bhagawat Geeta in the 11th chapter. Similarly, he had maximized his body in Vaman Avatar to measure the three worlds in three steps. Hanuman had taken a huge form to burn Lanka, and to fight with Kumbakarna.
Garima
The capacity to become infinitely heavy in weight at will is said to be Garima Siddhi among ashta siddhi. It is also said as becoming heavier than the heaviest. Hanuman had made his tail heavy so that Bhima, who was having the energy like that of ten thousand elephants, could not lift it up.
Laghima – 4th Ashta Siddhi
It is the accomplishment to become almost weightless (becoming lighter than the lightest). Levitation and flying are examples of this power.
Prapti
Prapti is the ability to attain anything desired.
Prakamya
Next type of siddhi in ashta siddhi is Prakamya. It is the ability to realize whatever one desires. Such as travel/go anywhere at will in a moment, even faster than a second, the power of entering the body of another (parakaya pravesh), ability to reform and adapt as per circumstances, the power of keeping oneself youth for any length of time.
Isitva
It is the absolute lordship over the entire creation or nature. The natural phenomenon obeys to such person having Isitva power.
Vasitva
It means the ability to have control over other. Through this accomplishment, one can control senses, mind (of self and others) and matters (including elements). Through this siddhi, one can tame wild animals and enthralled people etc.
Patanjali has mentioned the ways to attain the supernatural powers as well. “Janma aushadi mantra tapah samadhijah siddhayah” which means attainment of supernatural power is by birth, medicine (drugs/herbs), mantra (incantation), penance (self-discipline), and samdhi.
Attainment of siddhi by Birth: Sometimes it happens that children born from spiritually advanced parents acquire some of the divine powers due to good karma (action) of their previous life. It is also said that they might have attained those powers in their past life as well which continued in this vary life.
Medicine: In nature, there are some special herbs, use of which can help to attain some miraculous powers. For example, Sanjivini herb could bring Laxman back to life.
Mantra: Incantation of powerful syllables or words with proper discipline helps to acquire an accomplishment. Mantra works in two ways: 1) due to the effects of the power of sound, 2) due to self-discipline that mantra brings.
Penance: Self-mastery or self-discipline makes the mind clear and purer which provides the great strength. This helps to control all five elements just by will. However, one should have an unperverted mind. The practice of Ashtanga yoga as taught by Patanjali helps to acquire this stage.
Samadhi: Through regular practice of meditation and other spiritual practices, one reaches to the stage of Samadhi i.e. oneness with consciousness or uninterrupted consciousness. After this stage, he starts acquiring different types of siddhi.
Minor Siddhis
Kamarupam (कामरूपम्): The ability to change the body in the desired form
Durashravanam (दुरश्रवण):The ability to hear the voice of any distance location.
Duradarshan (दुरदर्शन):The ability to see the things of any distance as will.
Manojavah (मनोजव:):Ability to travel at the speed of thought.
Svachchhanda Mrityuhu(स्वच्छन्द मृत्यु:): The power to leave the physical world (to die) only on desire. One can choose the time of death.
Devanam Saha Krida Anudarshanam (देवानां सह क्रिडा अनुदर्शनम्): Ability to witness and participate in the activities of demigods.
Aagya Apratihata Gatih (आज्ञा अप्रतिहता गति:): Giving orders that are completely obeyed.
Yathasankalpasansiddhi (यथासंकल्पसंसिद्धि): The power to fulfill whatever is thought.
Parakayapraveshanam (परकायाप्रवेशनम्):The ability to enter in the body of others and feel the sense through their organs.
Tri-Kala Darshanam (त्रि-काल दर्शन):The vision or knowledge of past, present, and future.
The caliber to know all the language including those of animal
Knowledge of one’s and other’s past life.
The cathexis to read other’s mind.
The ability to make one’s body and matter invisible.
The merit of making everyone happy and joyful
The knowledge of all universe and planetary system.
The knowledge of arrangement and movement of stars
The ability to make body’s sound inaudible
The capacity to be motionless.
The to understand bodily anatomy
The aptitude of finding hidden and secret things.
The eligibility to behold the celestial beings
The knowledge of soul and consciousness.
The power to surround oneself with the blaze of fire
The potency to walk on thorns, water, fire etc.
The ability to tolerate extreme hot and cold.
The power to be effectless from the elements: not burn by fire, not drown in water, not harmed by poison etc.
Note: Lord Buddha, Lord Krishna and other all the enlightened person have stated that it is wiser to go to the path of enlightenment than to seek for supernatural powers because these powers hinder on the path of enlightenment. These powers can never give real peace, harmony, and happiness.
The final goal of human beings is enlightenment. Whenever the practitioner gets diverted towards power, he will miss the true path. So, it is suggested that not to be motivated by those siddhis. However, due to true spiritual practices, one acquires it. In other words, these powers are by product to the path of enlightenment.
If one misuses it then he will ruin. One should not generate ego on the achievement of power and should not do whatever he likes. If he ignores those powers or uses them in a positive way then it will not block the path to enlightenment.
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