See how our தோப்புக்கரணம் has become "super brain yoga" now

How many of you remember your childhood days when you are told by your parents to offer தோப்புக்கரணம் to Lord Ganesha? Remember??? even in some schools they made us do this as a punishment.......






This procedure is almost stopped and I really doubt how many of us had taken the efforts to pass it on to our kids. I need to stress this point here because I myself did not seriously consider making my son do this everyday. The reason being I did not know really anything about this amazing thing and how playfully we were taught to do this. Just because it is taught playfully, without telling the real reason, I think we did not consider this seriously. Now I am telling with confidence, after reading this, you will all try (at least try) to do it everyday and will also tell your kids to do it.

First, to briefly mention, தோப்புக்கரணம் is always offered to Lord Ganesha. Why Ganesha specifially? Why not other gods? You will come to know this at the end of this article.

Before that, please take a look at how it has become "Super Brain Yoga" now and its popularity...

http://www.amazon.com/SuperBrain-Yoga-Master-Choa-Kok/dp/9710376063  Amazon book 19.27$

http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Superbrain-Yoga  Wikihow how to do it

http://www.learnsuperbrainyoga.com/training/index.html Classes offered for fees to get training

You might also google "super brain yoga" and see the number of articles for this தோப்புக்கரணம் which we did playfully and for free but without knowing its benefits. Let us know why to do it this. In Sanskrit karanam means ears. Ear lobes has connection with brain and can activate the brain when we pull it gently. Left ear activates the right brain and right ear activates the left brain. Why hands crossed? because if only the left ear is pulled with right index and thumb fingers and vice versa, this activation happens.

Please go to this link to learn more about this entire procedure of brain activating process. Dr. Paul Nogier MD, a neurologist spent 20 years doing medical research to find out the connection. Chinese have also used those ear lobes as their acupuncture points.

http://www.superbrainyoga.com.au/SuperBrainYoga.htm

Benefits in a nutshell :

1. Will give good concentration and memory
2. Improvements in such conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, mood disorders and alzheimer's
3. Acts as a preventive medicine for the brain.

Please see this video to understand better.(Video link displays in laptops only and not in tablets)

Now let us see why Ganesha specifically is offered this தோப்புக்கரணம். Since it activates the brain and is connected to improved memory, it somehow relates to education and knowledge. But why not it is offered to Goddess Saraswathi when she is depicted as god of knowledge but to Ganesha? Maha periyava explains this with few points.

1. Vinayaka is pranava swaroopam. Pranavam is the foundation of all sounds and letters.

2. His another name is "Ganapathy" which means the head for all the "ganam". Ganam has many meanings. In language context (according to "vyakaranam which means grammar") Ganam" means "all the letters that come under the same rule" and Ganapathy is the head for it.

3. He is the writer of Mahabaratha (the author being Vyasa) which is the lengthiest poem ever written.  It is known as the fifth Veda. Since the four Vedas are only told in oral form, this fifth Veda is only in the written form and the same is done by Ganesha.

Another explanation is that two main attributes of Ganesha are "Sidhi" and "Bhudhi". Here "Bhudhi" means "intelligence, intellect or wisdom".

For further reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha
http://www.kamakoti.org/tamil/3dk2.htm
http://www.kamakoti.org/tamil/part1kural2.htm

Thanks to my friend "Ashwini"in helping me with Sanskrit words and its meanings and also her valuable inputs and knowledge sharing before each of my post. Thank you for reading and let me know your feedback.

This is what we think about our ancient wisdom....

Today when I was browsing dinamalar magazine, I was surprised to see a post which coincides with the topic I write in my blog, mythology and science. But I felt very sad after reading that entire article.  Here I submit the link for you to go through that article. Please also read the comments about various people (general public). It is nice to note at least some people have favorable notion about our ancient wisdom. But it is really sad to see a magazine like dinamalar to give such an unfair view (which is not neutral) with a pre-concluded thought in their mind.

http://www.dinamalar.com/news_detail.asp?id=1154483&

To just randomly mention, in my blog I try to find several mythological factors and trying to figure out the hidden scientific connection in them. I do it out of my own interest as I always had the curiosity to know about our mythology. But when we discuss such topics, we should have open-mindedness. That means, we should try to reason it out before we discuss or say something and cannot do it just like that. This is just what I am trying to do here and I always welcome inputs and contradicting thoughts as it helps me to learn further in this subject.

This particular article talks about a recent meeting for scientists (Ariviyal Maanadu). Various researchers have submitted their scientific views and a couple of people have submitted their views on topics like 1. our vimana sasthra technology in ancient times, 2. surgery done in ancient times (please refer to my "plastic surgery" post which I wrote recently. This is what I meant by co incidence) etc. And several people (our own Indian scientists) have said that all these are "kattukadhai" "abatham" "there is no proof" etc. I don't deny their views. It is their view and everyone has a right to say what they believe. But is it good to say that after sufficient research or is it good to say just like that? What we believe now is something what we rejected sometime back only. Proof goes on like yoga, meditation, our use of turmeric in food, homam purifies the air around you, ayurveda medication without side effects, positive vibrations and energy we get out of temples and so on... When each single thing is proved, then we start to believe that.

We should note that in that article these views are only given by our Indian scientists. They did not even try to reason it out. They told their views upfront even before knowing anything what is mentioned in the particular scripture. This shows how we judge our ancient wisdom and this ignorance have caused us not to realize and appreciate the merit of science in our ancient system. When it is researched and proved by some western scholors then we will say million positives about that. This ignorance has contributed to the destruction of a significant portion of our spiritual wealth and knowledge during the Mughal rule and British rule and we simply watched them. This ignorance is very sad and it is our greatest fate.

I will try my best to continue sharing what I know to find the connection between mythology and science. I am not trying to boast here that I know everything nor that I do have in-depth knowledge in spiritual matters. but I do a lot of reading before I produce my blog post and I submit the links for your reference. I welcome criticism and comments always and I am in the very very very beginning level of learning only. But I have a strong belief that our ancient people are not fools to have passed on those wonderful scriptures with such a dedication and commitment generations after generations. Just a final word. It is up to you to appreciate or deny these things and it depends on each person's own beliefs. But please do not simply state or think that everything which is mentioned in mythology is fake without doing at least a little reasoning. This is my humble request.....

"Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation" for health and prosperity

I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2015. I always take new year resolutions. But completing that is a thing which I normally don't do.... Lol. This year thought of doing Surya Namaskar (sun salutation) regularly. I do this sometimes, for which I have an yoga app, but here and there, not regularly and not as per it has to be done, like with manthras and with rising sun (early morning). This year, since I started writing this blog, I had a different idea about this Surya Namaskar.  As usual when I started to search for more information about this, not only about doing it and the poses, but with many questions like "Why should we do it" "why morning" What are the health benefits" "the origin of Surya Namaskar" etc etc, I am impressed by the information I got. So here I am, sharing the same with you.

I think almost all of you know about Surya Namaskar and most of you would have done it at least once. So this topic does not need much introduction. But let's briefly talk about its origin and its importance as given in our ancient scriptures, the way to correctly do it with manthras and then move on to its scientifically proven health benefits.

Surya Namaskar originated in India (many ancient religions like ancient Egypt and ancient Greece had the practice of sun worship but sun salutation with asanas and mantras is our unique tradition) and as always its origin date cannot be precisely told because our scriptures have been there orally long since before its documentation date. It integrates both asanas and pranayama (as mentioned in sage patanjali's ashtanga yoga). In our Hindu tradition, Sun worship is a part of our nithya vidhi (daily duty). Almost all the holy scriptures talk briefly about Sun and its significance. One specific thing which is worth mentioning here is "Adithya Hridhayam" which talks extensively about the importance of sun worship with manthras. Adithya Hridhayam is a collection of hymns told by sage Agasthya to Rama in the battlefield, when Rama is very exhausted before defeating Ravana. Those who are interested in knowing more about this can go to :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adityahridayam
http://www.harekrsna.de/aditya-hridayam.htm

There are manthras which are supposed to be recited with the different poses of sun salutation. My personal feel is that, manthras help you focus on the activity and prevent distraction. If you do the same pose or asana silently, only your body does the activity and not your mind. Mind may think thousands of things at that time and hence the benefits might not be fully achieved. There could be other spiritual reasons associated with the chanting of manthras, but I am unable to figure it out. I welcome inputs from people who know this spiritual connection. According to information I collected in net, each manthra describes one particular character of Sun, which is given below :

Mitraya - who is friendly to all
Ravaye - the shining, radiant one

Suryaya - one who ends darkness and brings activity
Bhanave - one who illuminates

Khagaya - one who moves through the sky
Pusne - giver of fulfillment

Hiranyagarbhaaya - one who has golden color
Maricaye - giver of light with infinite rays

Adityaya - son of Adithi
Savitre - who is responsible for life

Arkaya - worthy of praise and glory
Bhaskaraya - giver of wisdom

As the picture above portraits, sun salutation is done in 12 steps (though many yoga schools teach many variations in this). The whole sun salutation starts with a beginning mantra, followed by one mantra for one asana and also ends with an ending mantra. For the complete list of mantras and its translation please go this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Namaskar_Origins

When we talk about health benefits of this sun salutation, there are many. We can classify them as general benefits and benefits which are specifically attributed to the particular asana/pose. First, let us know the general health benefits briefly.

1. Regular practice can help lose belly fat
2. The postures stretches our body muscles and makes us flexible
3. relaxes body and mind and provides cure to insomnia
4. facilitate blood circulation
5. reducing stress and anxiety
6. makes the spine healthy
7. tones the arms
8. promotes regular menstrual cycle in women.
9. improves vision when done in sunrise in open space.

Now the specific health benefit associated with each of the above 12 poses/asanas :

1. Pranamasana - prepares the body for the sun salutation.
2. Hastha uthanasana - Fexible and relaxed spine
3. Hastha padhasana - Relieves gastric disorders
4. Ashwa sanchalanasana  - strengthens limbs, stretches back and hamstring muscles
5. Parvathasana - Toning of hips and back and provides relief from kidney problems
6. Ashtanga namaskar - strengthening of arm muscles and opening the chest
7. Bhujangasana - clears respiratory channels

Poses 8-12 are the repetition of the asanas from parvathasana to pranamasana and hence offer the same benefits.

It is also worthwhile to mention that a scientific study conducted in 2011 among school students in the age group of 8-14, revealed that :

" Scientific research has shown that yogic techniques produce consistent and beneficial physiological changes. A few weeks of disciplined yoga practice can lead to improvement in many physiologicaland psychological functions. It is claimed that suryanamaskar practice improves general health and fitness. It improves pulmonary, cardiovascular function. Suryanamaskar is the combination of asana and Pranayama and it is simple to practice, consumes only less time so that children can practice it every day. Yoga develops many wonderful qualities, and makes the children healthy for their future life. It also sharpens the ability to focus, self-confidence, and helps to develop self-discipline. We therefore conclude that suryanamaskar should be practised by children every day to get these beneficial effects."

http://recent-science.com/index.php/rrst/article/viewFile/7397/3798

Let us also start the new year with "Surya Namaskar" and enjoy the health benefits. A very Happy New Year to all once again and thank you for reading.