The Purpose and Need for Purana's

The sacred Vedas, especially the Upanishad's which are part of them are for those who profess their faith in Sanathana Dharma, Pramanas or Irrefutable authoritative texts. They have come down to us encapsulated in Sanskrit language, the Paripoorna bhasha(Complete language).

However, in the form in which they have come down to us, orally and in written language, they are couched in such a complex form that even great scholars have found it necessary to write commentaries on them. These commentaries are explanations and interpretations. Scholars and intellectuals amongst us however find a need to have even the commentaries explained in order to comprehend and assimilate the wisdom enshrined in them. How difficult it is for people understand them can be seen from the fact that even the great Acharyas(Guru's) or premier teachers differ among themselves in the way each interprets the sacred texts. Thus we have Advaita, Dwaita, Visishtadvaita and so on. There are sharp differences among the interpretations.

The ancient seers who cognised, comprehended, realised and bequeathed what they found to the generations that followed, were well aware of the fact that most of the wisdom would remain beyond the powers of comprehension of the masses. They therefore created or composed the Purana's - The term Purana means Ancient. The Rishi's wove stories and through the characters in them they helped the masses to grasp the wisdom of the Veda's and guided them to follow the examples of the characters and learn what they should do and should not do to remain within the safe folds of Sanatana Dharma. Apart from the allegorical form of teaching, the encyclopaedic realm of the Puranas cover such varied academic topics as history, georaphy as also social customs and traditions. These puranic themes, harmonised in various ways, probably prompted Maj. Gen Charles Stuart (1758-1828) to observe on HIndu Mythology. Whenever i look around me in the vast region of Hindu mythology, I discover piety in the garb of allegory and I see morality, at every turn, blended with every tale , and, as far as I can rely on my own judgement, it appears the most complete and ample system of Moral allegory that the world has ever produced".

The profound significance and beauty of what the puranas convey in an easily understandable and assimilable form is by projecting fundamental facts through the actions of characters in the puranas. The puranas convey in unmistakable terms the fact that no matter how exalted a person may be,  any swerving away from their moral moorings and the righteous path or conduct can bring to naught all their noble achievements and glory. The descend can occur if one succumbs to kama or Lust, Krodha or Anger, Lobha or Greed, Moha or Emotional attachement, Mada or Ahamkara, Pride and Arrogance and Matsarya, Envy or Jealousy.

Vedas are for intellectuals and initiated. Puranas are there for all of us. both contain the same fundamental values of life and teach us the Art of Living !

What the Vedas and Puranas convey between them is the value of virtues and how they can turn out to be futile and ineffective when we even momentarily swerve away and become adrift from the path of virtuous conduct and behaviour.

Sunderlal G Mehta

BVB, 30, 2013

Improving Ones' Metabolism

Metabolism is a chemical process in our body, which can be described as the speed of calorie burning or the number of calories we burn every day. Every person has an individual metabolic rate, and that is why some of us can eat a lot and remain slim, and some have to eat less in order to remain in a normal weight.

Some people have low metabolism, so calories burn slower in their body and the rest of the calories get stored. Some people have high metabolism, so they can eat a lot and have lower risks of putting on weight.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water every day. It helps increase your metabolism and remove toxins and extra fat from the body. Drinking ice cold water before meals will shrink your stomach so you feel full quicker.

Eat 4-6 times a day and avoid skipping meals. Failure to eat consistently can lead to a slower metabolism and fat storage. Skipping meals slows down your metabolism.

Your first meal that is the breakfast sets your metabolism for the day and keeps it going as long as you eat every three hours. If you get up early and eat a late breakfast, you missed out on several hours of burning calories.

Trans fats are found in biscuits, breads, confectionaries, fast-foods, fried food items, including namkeens, fried sweets, many cakes and pastries, ready to eat meals, fast foods, junk foods, microwave meals and snacks and much of the street, restaurant and hotel food etc. They harm by increasing the cholesterol levels in the blood. They also increase other harmful fats in the blood. They also bring down the "good cholesterol", or HDL cholesterol, in the blood. You will never get the body you desire by eating fast food, frozen dinners etc. If it's man-made, it's not the best choice. So, avoid trans fats as far as possible.

Stay active at least six days a week. Exercise, jog or at least walk 2-3 km daily. Take the stairs whenever possible or park further out to get that little bit of extra movement and keep the heart and lungs working optimally. Studies have shown that little movements such as tapping your toes while working also help burn calories.

Fibre can rev your fat burn by as much as 30 percent. Studies find that those who eat the most fibre gain the least weight over time. Aim for about 25 grams a day- the amount in about three servings each of fruits and vegetables.

Studies in the past have shown that those who go to bed late and sleep less than the required 6-7 hours tend to be more stressed out and have more visceral fat. Visceral fat, also called intra-abdominal fat, refers to the fat that surrounds the internal organs.

Protein helps stabilise the secretion of insulin into your blood stream, a process that can boost metabolism. The average person would benefit from protein intake at a minimum of 70 grams or higher each day.

Although exercising any time is good for you, evening activity may be particularly beneficial. Many people's metabolism slows down olangatoward the end of the day. Thirty minutes of aerobic activity before dinner increases your metabolic rate and may keep it elevated for other two or three hours.

If you follow those crash diets that ask you to almost starve for food, then beware. Not eating anything may translate into a slower metabolism and fat storage.

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Spice here, Rat poison there!

Cinnamon in extensively used as a spice in India. Traditionally both Cinnamon and Cassia are in use as spices and in the manufacture of spices. Since Cassia has created health problems, most of the European countries have banned its imports. USA, UK and Germany are importing Cassia to make Rat poison. In India, the product in the Indian market is Cinnamon zeylanicum .i.e., Cassia or Cinnamon cassia. This fake cinnamon contains Coumarin that is extensively used as a rat poison.

Coumarin damages liver and kidneys in humans even in small doses, The problem is that most people do not know what true Cinnamon looks or smells like. People prefer cassia for its smell and taste which is sharper than cinnamon. The imported cost of Cassia is Rs 35/- Per Kg while that of the Cinnamon is between Rs. 150/- t Rs. 600/- per kg. The problem is that Cassia is being substituted extensively. Cinnamon and Cassia are two different plants. It is unfortunate no major steps are taken by the concerned countries to curb such practices.

From a Letter

BVB, Nov, 2013

10 Ways to Cut Down Calories

A small spoonful (5mL) of most cooking oils has more than 40 calories. So, use only a few drops while cooking.

Change your nonstick pans once the coating wears off. The expense is worth the calories saved.

All the foods that you eat fried can be eaten grilled, roasted, or steamed. This means oil-free cooking and considerable calories saved.

Instead of having fruit juice at breakfast, have fruits. While an average orange has about 60 calories, a glass (250mL) of orange juice has more than 100 calories.

Soft drinks are an easy route through which calories sneak into your body. Avoid these sugary drinks and have more water instead.

Fruit smoothies, flavored ice candies, flavored yogurt are all relatively low calorie options. An appealing bowl of chilled mixed fruits can also help take your mind off the ice-cream.

Low fat milk and yogurt has about half the calories as its full fat version. Instead of avoiding dairy altogether switch to the low fat variety.

Make it a habit to put your food on a plate or bowl before you eat it. This means not eating handfuls directly from the bag.

Eat at home before stepping out or carry a homemade snack in your bag. Eat out only when you are eating-out.

Calorie cutting should be a slow and steady effort rather than the launch of a sudden war against food. Try to reduce and change your eating habits over a couple of weeks and not overnight.

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Bestowed Power

"Those who, by good fortune, only rise from mere private station to the dignity of princess, have but little trouble in achieving that elevation, for they fly there, as it were, on wings; but their difficulties begin after they have been placed in that high position. Such are those who acquire a state either by means of money, or by the favour of some powerful monarch who bestows it upon them. Many such instances occurred in Greece, in the cities of Ionia and of the Hellespont, where men were made princes by Darius so that they might hold those places for his security and glory. And such were those emperors who from having been mere private individuals attained the empire by corrupting the soldiery. These remain simply subject to the will and the fortune of those who bestowed greatness upon them, which are two most uncertain and variable things. And generally these men have neither the skill nor the power to maintain that high rank."

Nicola Machiavelli

Italian Political Philosopher

Exercising tips for pregnant women

The very first thing is to discuss your exercise regimen with your doctor. Your doctor is going to have the most information about your health issues and any risks that you and your baby may face in the months to come.

Your body really does know what it can and can't handle in terms of exercise. Perform only those exercises which do not make you feel uncomfortable.

It's definitely healthy to exercise while you are pregnant. Stick to a regular routine to maintain the rhythms of your body. Starting and stopping exercise throughout a pregnancy is much harder on the body than simply maintaining a routine throughout your pregnancy.

Go slow while transitioning between exercises or physical activities. Slowing down will make all of your actions more fluid and safer for your body.

Warm up and cool down exercises must be done every single time when you exercise. During pregnancy, it's particularly important to warm up and cool down. Make sure to pay attention to this part of your exercise routine.

Women should learn about the right positions for her body while exercising. These are important things to know when you are exercising, especially if you are doing any form of on-the-floor exercise.

Don't overheat your body. This can lead to exhaustion and problems with your body. Make sure that you wear breathable clothing that will prevent overheating. Pay attention to the temperature in the room or outside when you are working out.

You should reduce the amount of exercise as the baby's due date gets closer. This is due to your own physical limitations as well as the increased risk for pre-term labour among highly active women.

A personal trainer experienced in working with pregnant women is a great asset during this time. A pre-natal class (such as a yoga class for pregnant woman) is another great option.

Walking is probably the best exercise for a pregnant woman. It is an excellent way to tone muscles and help you get sound sleep at night.

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Benefits of Drinking Water

Water flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown and thus helps one lose weight. 

Drinking water also reduces hunger as it makes you feel fuller. It's thus an effective appetite suppressant. Plus, water has zero calories.

Water helps relieve headache and back pains caused due to dehydration. Although there are many other reasons contribute to headache, dehydration is one of the most common.

Water replenishes skin tissues, moisturises skin and increases skin elasticity. It hydrates the skin and makes you look younger.

Drinking water regulates your body temperature. You'll feel more energetic while exercising as water helps fuel your muscles.

Drinking water raises your body metabolism because it helps digest food. Fibre and water goes hand in hand so that you can have your daily bowel movement.

Proper hydration helps keep your joints and muscles lubricated, decreasing the possibility of cramps and sprains.

Drinking water help you fight against flu and other ailments like kidney stones and heart attack.

Water helps flushing out toxins and waste products from the body.

Your brain is mostly made up of water, thus drinking water helps you think better, be more alert and more concentrate.

Scientific studies have shown that water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with bladder lining and thus reduces cancer risk.

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