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The day after holi: pink, green and blue faces, rashes everywhere, body aches, cold, cough and pains occurs - thanks to catching a chill in the wet clothes or an allergic reaction to the using chemical-laced colours and other numbers of particulates that float in during holi air. To keep away harsh chemicals dampening your spirits, all you have to do is to perform simple yogic techniques and raid your kitchen, kitchen garden or your granny’s spice rack to celebrate Holi naturally & organically. The best part, at the end of all the merriment your skin will glow. Yogic Techniques  1. JAL NETI:  (Nasal cleansing) Take 500ml bearably warm water in a neti pot, add ½ tsp black/rock salt and a pinch of turmeric. Stand evenly and bending slightly forward tilt the head at a 45degrees angle towards left. Insert the nozzle of the pot into the right nostril. While breathing normally from the mouth, tilt the pot so that the water runs into the right nostril and flo...

Our entire life is linked to two energies – that of the sun (surya) and of the moon (chandra). Surya is the devta of gyan. Its shakti is Gayatri ji, the source of all other shaktis in Creation. Sanatan Kriya details the Surya sadhna, through which one experiences the energy of the sun and its true character is revealed to the practitioner. For general understanding, it is enough to know that the sun is closely linked to our lives. The importance of sun can be gauged to an extent from the role it plays in the physical creation – plants use sunlight to make food and in turn provide nourishment to all beings on earth, the water cycle, the winds, the ocean currents all are regulated by the heating effect of the sun, the planets are held in their respective orbits because of the attraction of the sun, it is sun that brings the change in day and season. Having studied the sun for many years now, I can say with certainty that Surya sadhna is a highly potent practice, which if perf...

The physical comprising of the five elements is only one layer to it. As you progress in the sadhna of yog, the various layers of creation unfold in front of you and you realise that the physical, which majority spend their life and birth pursuing, is just a small aspect of creation, a layer which is directly controlled by the world of ether, which is the subject of yog. Most of us have grown up listening to stories from Ramayan, of the noble king Ram, his virtuous wife Sita and devoted brother Lakshman. Diwali, as most understand, is the day when these three returned to Ayodhya after an exile of 14 years. In this article, we will highlight how it is perceived in the realm of energy. Lord Ram is a reflection of the energy of Preserver (Vishnu), Devi Sita an incarnation of his force (Goddess Lakshmi) and Lakshman is a reflection of the Sheshnaag, which is where the two energies rest. These three shaktis manifested in physical creation (bhulok) for a purpose, to uphold dhar...

The ever-powerful goddess’s presence can be traced across the globe in numerous religions, myths and texts. As per modern historians and geologists, the world as we know today was one big landmass called the ‘Pangea’ many thousand years ago. If one reads the creation story in various cultures, they talk about a flood and a saviour. So then, does it mean that all of us—geographies and cultures irrespective—have common roots, a common origin, and are governed by the same energy? As per Vedic philosophy, there are three aspects of Creation: creation, preservation and transformation, and to run these functions the Divine energy assumes the triple form of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, with the propelling forces Saraswati, Lakshmi and Durga respectively. Interestingly, these pieces of evidence are not limited to the Indian subcontinent but can be found all across the globe. In this article, we will trace the presence of Durga or Adi Shakti cross the world map. Another name f...

The day after #holi: pink, green and blue faces, rashes everywhere, body aches and pains-all this and more is the result of using chemical laced colours. Don't let harsh chemicals dampen your spirits. All you have to do is raid your kitchen, kitchen garden or your granny's spice rack and celebrate it organically. The best part, at the end of all the merriment your skin will glow. Here's how:  Mellow yellow: Soak dry tesu flowers overnight in hot water. You will get a bright yellow wet colour to put in pichkaris.  Sandalwood powder and haldi will give you a brilliant yellow dry colour.  Take two teaspoons of turmeric powder mix this with besan (double the amount of turmeric taken) for a lovely dry colour. Instead of besan you can also use flour or arrow root. Of course this will dilute the intensity.  Dried powder of flowers like marigold and yellow chrysanthemums also work. Give me red:  Boil and crush beetroot in water to make a gre...

Atulit baldhamam hem shelabh deham, danujvan krishanum, gyhaninaam agarhganyam, Sakal gun nidhanam, vanaranaam adhisham, Raghupati priybhaktam vaatjatam namami (The one who is the repository of incomparable strength, the one whose body resembles a golden mountain, the one who is the destroyer of forces of demons, the one who is considered foremost among knowledgeable beings. The one who is the repository of all the virtues and good qualities, the one who is the dearest of all devotees to Lord Ram, I salute you.) Lord Hanuman is the giver of gyan. When there is gyan, avidya (ignorance) vanishes. Our problems stem from avidya, which connects us with the unreal. It is because of avidya that a human being attaches himself/herself to health, finances, relationships, social status, etc. all of which are unreal as they are temporary and bound to leave us, and when they leave, they leave us in pain. Is there anything in the physical world that you ...

Navratras come twice a year, marking the transition of seasons. In Ayurveda, during this time, consume nourishing foods in minimal quantities to rid the body from toxins collected during the rains. The nine nights and ten days of Navratras hold the energy of ten forms of Shakti–Shailaputri, Brahmcharini, Chandrakanta, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri and Aparajitha. The weather changes, and various energies of creation move from imbalance towards a new normalcy, including in our body. Our body’s prana shakti undergoes realignment, from imbalance to a new balance for the new season. For this realignment, the body has to be kept light. Therefore, the ancients prescribed fasting or upvaas during these nine days. Upavaas has a  greater connotation than merely holding back from certain foods. At Dhyan Ashram, sadhaks observe upavaas in its authentic sense—giving up all pleasures to observe austerities during sadhna, through celibacy, consumi...