Prayer is like a charging mechanism. All of us use a mobile phone and many other gadgets. All electronic appliances, whether it is a TV, a washing machine, kitchen blender or a torch, require a power supply or a charging mechanism either through an in-built battery or external cells or power supplies. In case of a problem in any instrument, we need to look into two things. One is the hardware, which may need repair or replacement in the machine body, the energy supply or the charging facility. The second is the program. Correct these and the machine runs efficiently once again.
Human beings are born with the inner spark, an in built energy mechanism. But we also need to charge our body with a continuous supply of air, food and water. The body cannot sustain without these essentials. However, we are definitely much more than just the physical body. While the ‘food’ takes care of the hardware, our energy supply comes from pranic force. Praan is the radiation of energy from the omnipresent that make this magic of life possible. Prayer is food for the brain, in fact, it is a program and it is used to connect ourselves to the cosmic energy source. The quantity and time, how much to eat and how long to pray depends on the individual constitution.
We are born with different constitutions, much like a wide range of smartphones available. Depending on how smart our body-model is and the consumption of the energy due to karmic actions, the quantity of both prayer, meditation and of food may be customised to the individual needs. For example anger, aggression, emotional excitements, stress, make the body hot and the energy is discharged must faster. Love, quietness, meditation, prayer, on the other hand, will not only help the energy to last longer but will also add to the charge and power.
What is prayer? Prayer is like an appreciation of goodness and positive energy. When in the form of a mantra, the energy is carried by the waves of the phonetically designed sounds in the mantra. In the process, our doubts and negative thoughts are charged into positivity and optimism. Thus, some form of prayer, or positive assertions, are necessary every day, like all equipment needs charging on a daily basis. If this charge is not provided, the mind, slowly, over a period of time goes on discharging and doesn’t work 100%. In the long run, this leads to depression. It helps to select one particular form of prayer or meditation as per your likings and practice is regularly preferable at the same time everyday to get the best results.
Answer 2: These conditions are caused by the disturbance in the digestive fire or the jatharagni. Saman vayu is responsible for exciting the fire in the digestive tract and is also behind the above problem. To improve this, start taking a mixture of lemon and ginger juice with a pinch of black salt and jeera powder before lunch every day. Drinking hot boiled water is recommended at all times. Eat light and simple food that is easily digested like mung dal khichadi, soft rice, chapatti, fulka, vegetables like dudhi, tondli etc. Taking a cup of buttermilk after lunch with a pinch of black salt or jeera and dry ginger helps to improve digestion. After getting your constitution checked by a doctor, one can start medicines like sanjeevani guti, bilwasan jam, kutaj ghanvati, etc.
The thyroid problem also needs to be attended to by undergoing a complete tissue cleaning, detox and rejuvenation treatment i.e. Santulan panchakarma therapy program and taking regular medicines. Ayurveda suggests medicinal oil, like Femisan oil, with herbs like dhaity (Woodfordie fruticosa), Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), Jyestamadhu (liquorice) etc to be taken a few drops on medicated cotton and kept in the vagina overnight. Yoga exercises like Ajgari mudra specially designed for thyroid problems should also be undertaken. Tratak or candle gazing for five to 10 minutes daily will also help.
The author is founder of Atmasantulana Village, a world-renowned holistic healing centre. You can reach out to us on ayurveda@dnaindia.net