Index-Contents

Publishers' Note
Preface
Introductory Notes
The Rigvedic Prayer for a Long Life
Ise Upanishad on Hundred Years of Life
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra for Long Life
Surya Stotram for Longevity
Every Morning Dose for Hundred Years' Life
Surya Namaskar for a Hundred Years Life
Rishi Chyavana, Ashwini Kumaras and the
Preparation of Youthhood
A Herbal Preparation for Long Life
Hundred Years as Man's Normal Duration of Life
Why Grow Old'?
A Call to Abundant Energy and Long Life
Yogic Way of Increasing the Span of Life
Vedantic Methods for a Hundred Years Life
Lengthening Life by Brahmacharya
Character-building for Longevity
Spiritual Therapeutics for Longevity
Shadow-gazing for Longevity
Exercises for Arresting Old Age
Yogic Secret of Conquering Death
How to Become a Centenarian?
Some Secrets of Longevity
A Prescription for the Perfection of the Body
Longevity and Transformation of Body in Indian Medicine
Forms of Kalpa Treatment
The Rejuvenation Techniques of Hindu Rishis
Yoga and Rejuvenation Through Kaya-kalpa
Rejuvenation Through Milk Treatment
Neem Treatment for a Hundred Years Life
Butter-milk Treatment for a Hundred Years Life
Brahmi Treatment for Hundred Years' Life
Ayurvedic Treatment for Hundred Years' Life
Naturopathic Secrets of Hundred Years' Living
The Attainment of Longevity
Increase the Duration of Life
Longevity Possible for Blood-pressure Patients
A Sure Remedy for Becoming a Centenarian
A Healthy Life of Hundred Years
Radiant Health through Yoga
Man Can Live Forever
Is There a Long-life Secret
Protection of the Aura and Attaining Long Life
Life of Some of the Centenarians
Longevity in Vedas
 How
To Live
HUNDRED YEARS
Sri Swami Sivananda

Published by
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
P.O. SHIVANANDANAGAR-249 192
Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand, Himalayas, India
www.Sivanandaonline.org, www.dishq.org
 PUBLISHERS' NOTE
In this remarkable little volume, Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj has, as a
skilful doctor, an expert Yogi, an ace psychologist, and a Perfect Sage, laid
down several medical, Yogic, Vedantic, psychological, scientific, Ayurvedic
and Naturopathic methods for becoming a Centenarian. For all those who are
earnestly seeking for perfect health and a very long life, this work will be highly
inspiring, informative and valuable.
—THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
 PREFACE
Gerontology is an ancient science! Since time immemorial Man has sought
ways and means to conquer death; because, he is immortal. There is an innate
urge in him to express that immortality, and to experience that-immortality here
and now.
The Isavasya Upanishad enjoins upon man the duty to try to live for a hundred
years, performing right actions.
The Rishis had in their forest-research-laboratories discovered various methods
of prolonging life—Pranayama, Asanas like Sirshasana and Sarvangasana,
prayer, Havan, certain herbs, and Kaya Kalpa. They discovered that those living
beings which breathed slowly, with less number of breaths per minute, lived
longer, and that suspension of breathing led to hibernation and prolongation of
life! They prescribed Pranayama for long life.
But, let us never forget that long life in itself is not an undiluted blessing!
Health, strength and vitality are not unalloyed blessings in themselves. It
depends upon how they are utilised. Life should not mean prolongation of the
miseries of old age, a gradual decay, a living death. Life should be so lived as to
keep you in full vigour till the hundredth birthday. Even this will not do, is not
enough. Till that day, you must lead the divine life, a life of selfless service to
humanity, in such a manner that on your hundredth birthday people will still
pray whole-heartedly to the Lord that you will live for another century.
Spiritual dedication, dedication to a noble humanitarian cause, is one of the
most important factors in the prolongation of life. Other factors are: equal wear-
out of all the vital organs of the body (without one decaying faster), absence of
chronic diseases, warm-hearted love towards fellow-men, especially to the
younger generation, zealous interest in some useful occupation and a will to
live, and live for a mission.
At the same time, there must be a willingness to accept the inevitable changes
that occur as age advances. Dr. Crampton, a noted geriatrician, says: "If a man
has sense enough to realise that in many different ways he is not what he was
ten years ago, and acts accordingly, he is way ahead of the game. Know your
limitations-adapt yourself to them-and enjoy your privileges to the utmost. And,
that is very sound advice.
Be cheerful. Be child-like. Be youthful in your eagerness to know and to do.
Rest in God and know that the soul is birthless, deathless, ageless. Above all,
meditate regularly and know that you are the Immortal Atman. You will be
blessed with health and long life.
May you all become centenarians and benefactors of humanity.
May God bless you all!
 INTRODUCTORY NOTES
How to live 100 years?
"Plain living and high thinking" is the answer.
The question and answer both consist of five words only; but it is very difficult
to practise. Simple and plain things appear so in the beginning are very hard for
practice. The tendency of man is always towards high living and low thinking.
A man be-comes as he thinks. 'A sound mind in a sound body'. If the thinking is
sound, body remains sound. Evil thoughts exert a very bad influence on body of
self and others also. They do harm to the thinker and the thought; so we should
preserve our-selves from evil thoughts and always cherish noble thoughts.
Plain Living: Plain living means natural living i.e., living according to the rules
of nature. Our body consists of five natural elements, the earth, the water, the
sun, the air and the sky. Full use of these elements keeps the body in good
order.
The Earth: We live on this earth. Magnetic currents pass through this earth. So,
as far as possible, we should walk bare-footed, to be in contact with the earth.
The earth has the property of taking away most deadly poisons. The earth has
the property of taking away even the poison of snake-bite. In olden times when
there was no soap, people were using soft earth for cleansing the teeth, the body
and the hair. After bath they were applying Bhasma all over the body and it has
been found that the people of old generation are long-lived and better in health
than the people of the present generation. Also natural living is cheap. We do
not require any money for the earth. Only little exertion is needed.
The Water: The water also plays an important part in keeping the body in good
order. The first thing, as soon as we get up in the morning, is the water which
we require for cleaning our mouth. Secondly we want water for drinking which
cleans our internal organs. The third is that we want water for bath. Cold-water-
bath in the morning is more invigorating and gives us more energy. As far as
practicable we should not take water with meals. Water should be taken one
hour before or two hours after meals. For better health enema of water may be
taken, every week or whenever required. Water can be used as a curative agent,
in the form of hot, cold packs. When the pain is bearable cold wet pack and
when the pain is unbearable hot wet packs should be used.
In rainy season water becomes muddy; so it should be filtered and one whole
lemon should be put in a three-gallons-pot for an hour and then that water
should be used for drinking purposes. If we require water immediately we
should put 2 drops of lemon-juice in 3 gallons-water-pot.
Air: The air is most important of all the elements of which this body is
composed. In the morning air there is one and half times of oxygen than the air
at any other time. So morning walk or running is most essential. A brisk walk is
much better if running is not possible. We must spend most of our time in the
open air, as far as practicable. Those persons who have to work in the open air
are more healthy than the people whose work is inside the rooms. Open air drill
and games are more beneficial than physical exercises taken inside the house.
People of old generations are long-lived because their work was of-ten in the
open air, because there were no factories and mills.
The Sun: Sun-bath in the morning sun for 10 to 20 minutes supplies us with
much energy and purifies the body. Work in the open air outside is good but it
is not possible for all when in this age of machines, most of the work goes on in
mills, factories and offices. In old times there were open air schools. Most
people were living in huts or houses which had roofs of tiles. In the olden times
living was more natural. Now it has become most artificial. Nowadays house-
problem has become very acute and most people have to live in crowded houses
which are neither airy nor sunny. Surya Namaskars done in the open air are very
useful to health.
Exercise: Exercise is a necessary food for long life. Surya Namaskara is the
most useful exercise. It is based on the principle of Asanas and Pranayama.
People of old generation were practising this exercise. It gives physical and
spiritual benefits.
It can be done both by men and women. Out-door games are also good. Indian
games do not require much apparatus, while European games are more costly.
For children and boys running is a good exercise. For old people morning and
evening walk is a good exercise. Any kind of regular exercise is necessary.
Food: Food is of great importance in keeping good health. Best food is roots
and fruits. Rishis who lived long, were living on roots and fruits. Natural sun-
cooked fruits are very good for health and also are Sattvic. Now they are very
costly and are not within the reach of all when even cereals are very dear.
Germinated cereals contain more vitamins than milled cereals. In the absence of
any vegetables, germinated food grains also serve the purpose of vegetables.
Amongst cooked food, food prepared in a cooker contain more vitamin than
those prepared in direct fire. Poor men can take advantage of cheap vegetables
and fruits. Too hot and too cold drinks should be avoided.
Milk and Its Products: Cow's milk is useful from baby to an oldest man. It is a
perfect food. Now it has become very dear and many cannot afford the same. In
the beginning of the 20th century milk was cheap and within the reach of all
people, the poor and the rich alike. Now only the rich can afford milk, curd,
ghee, etc. Ghee has already disappeared from the meals of the poor and middle
class men. Artificial Ghee has taken its place.
Buttermilk is as good as milk. So, middle class men can take advantage of
butter milk. From medical and health point of view, cow's milk is the best.
Fresh milched milk is the best, but this is not possible for all now. So once
boiled milk should be used.
Vegetables and Fruits: They are also most necessary for good health. Our meal
really should contain} 1/4 of cereals and 3/4, of fruits and vegetables. These
also have become dear, so, cheap leafy vegetables may be used. Vegetable
salads are very good. If this is not done vegetable should be boiled in air-tight
vessels or in a cooker.
Amongst vegetables spinach, lettuce, etc. are good. Amongst fruit-vegetables
carrots, radish, tomatoes are within the reach of many people. Among cheap
fruits, bananas, lemons are good.
Amongst dried fruits, dates, raisins, are good and also cheaper. So cheaper fruits
may be used with advantage.
Good Habits: Good habits are also of great use in keeping up health. 'Early to
bed and early to rise' makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise'. For night-duty
people the habit of getting up at 4 a.m. and going to bed at 10 p.m. is not
possible, but those persons who have no night-duty also get up after sunrise and
stay awake till late at night. The habit of morning walk is also necessary for
those who have to remain often in close quarters. Food also should be taken at
regular times as far as possible. It should be well masticated and should not be
gulped hurriedly. Hot drink, such as tea, coffee, cocoa are not necessary for the
climate of our country, except for people who live in hilly countries.
Good Conduct: Good conduct is as necessary as food. We should be kind to
each other and ever ready to help others as we are the sons of the same
Almighty Father God who rules the whole universe. "A man becomes as he
thinks". We should always cherish good thoughts. Evil thoughts, not only do
harm to others, but they harm us, also. So we should never wish ill of others.
We should not hurt feelings of others by harsh talk or unnecessarily criticising
others. "To err is human." Here in this world none is perfect, so we should
forgive any wrong done to us, thinking that the same is due to ignorance on the
part of the other man. We should bring home the wrong to him in loving
manner. If we behave unjustly towards any one, do wrong to others or deprive
one of any of the things or articles, which do not belong to us, our mind
naturally becomes uneasy and this has an evil effect on our health, as our own
conscience pricks us. So we should be more careful about others' things.
The feelings of anger is also very harmful, so we should try to control our mind,
under unfavourable circumstances. In the same way the fear of any untoward
happening is not conducive to health. Anxieties and worries, undermine both
the body and the mind. We should have forethought but as far as possible
should not give place to anxieties in our mind.
Idleness also is bad for health. An empty mind is devil's workshop. So we
should always engage ourselves in some work or other, private or public.
Overwork is also not good. Enough rest is also necessary. Rest means, change
of work. For rest we should have light and interesting work, or some good
hobbies or reading of some good books, from which we can learn something.
Library is the people's university. We can gather much useful knowledge by
reading good books. Gardening, evening walk, or good talk with friends are
entertainments of a better kind, than cinema or cards.
Brahmacharya: Brahmacharya plays a most important role in keeping us
healthy and giving long life. It gives power and strength. Much stress was laid
on Brahmacharya in olden times. Now it is mostly neglected. All great men
practised Brahmacharya; they were pure in thought and deed. For a man who
leads a life of a householder it is necessary that he should practise
Brahmacharya up to 25 years and then he should marry. After marriage also
much self-control is necessary. The cinemas and the cheap third class literature
which is being produced in large quantities is a great hindrance to
Brahmacharya. Old was gold. Now everything is imitation only.
Prayer: Lastly we should pray to God who is protecting us at every moment of
our life. We should pray to God for His Grace at least in the morning as soon as
we get up and at bed-time, if we do not find time during the day owing to heavy
work for earning our livelihood and household and social du-ties. More things
are wrought by prayer than a man dreams of. So, prayer is as essential as food.
We should never forget God under any circumstances, either good or bad.
Unfavourable circumstances are due to our faults, either in this life or in
previous birth. We alone are responsible for them and not God. In short, plain
living and high thinking is the watch-word of Long Life.
 THE RIGVEDIC PRAYER FOR A LONG LIFE

सववितता पशशतातसविस्वीतता पपरसततात

सववितता न सवितप सविर्वततातस्वी

सववितता ननो रतासतता ददीरर्वमतायपय- ऋगविवेद

The Creator is above, the Creator is below, the Creator is behind, the Creator is
in front. May the Creator give us sound health and comforts. May the Creator
bestow on us a long life!
—Rigveda, X. 36-14.
ISA UPANISHAD ON 100 YEARS OF LIFE

कपविर्वतवेविवेह कमतार्वणणि जजिजिस्वी वविषषैछत समतामां !

ऐवि तवियय नतानयवेथवेतनोजसत न कमर्व ललिपयतवे नरवे !!

Kurvanneveha karmani jijeevishet shatam samah;

Evam tvayi nanyatheto'sti na karma lipyate nare.
Performing verily works in this world, one should wish to live a hundred years.
Thus, it is right for thee and not otherwise than this. Action will not bind that
man.
This is the second Mantra of the lsavasya Upanishad. It lays down the right rule
for works. It indicates the spirit which should govern the works in this world.
When continually one performs works in this divine, selfless, detached spirit,
one is bound to be liberated from the effects of Karma, from the results of
-action. Performing such liberating works, one should live hundred years. The
second part of the first line takes for granted, recognises the fact, that hundred
years constitute the normal span of man's life on earth. Full hundred years one
should live.
"Jijeevishet" means should wish to live. "Shatam Samaah" means a hundred
years. Continually doing good and liberating actions, and not otherwise, one
should wish to live a hundred years.
This Upanishadic statement is a call to a vigorous hundred-year-life. Leading an
idle easy-going life will not do. A hundred years one should not vegetate, but
live. And live to-wards perfection, Moksha.
The normal measure of a hundred years life, one should live. One should do
religious rites daily. One should do constant selfless, disinterested service to
humanity with Atma-Bhava. Only then, will one get purification of heart
(Chitta-Suddhi) and obtain Atma-Jnana.
MAHA MRITYUNJAYA MANTRA FOR LONG LIFE

II महतामत
म जि
प यममांत: II

ॐ तयबमांक यजितामहवे सपगजनन्धि पपजषष्टिविन्धिर्वनम II

उवितार्वरुकलमवि बतामांन्धिनतानम्रतयत्यों ममयछर्वयतामतामत

म तात II
Om tryambakam yajaamahe
Sugandhim pushtivardhanam;
Urvaarukamiva bhandhanaat
Mrityormuksheeya maamritaat.
MEANING
We worship the three-eyed One (Lord Siva) who is fragrant and who nourishes
well all beings; may He liberate us from death for the sake of Immortality even
as the cucumber is severed from its bondage (to the creeper).
BENEFITS
1. This Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a life-giving Mantra. In these days,
when life is very complex and accidents are an everyday affair, this
Mantra, wards off deaths by snake-bite, lightning, motor-accidents, fire-
accidents, cycle-accidents, waterJ2 accidents, air-accidents and accidents
of all descriptions. Be-sides, it has a great curative effect. Again, diseases
pronounced incurable by doctors are cured by this Mantra, when chanted
with sincerity, faith and devotion. It is a weapon against disease. It is a
Mantra to conquer death.
2. It is also a Moksha Mantra. It is Lord Siva's Mantra. It bestows long life
(Deergha Ayus), peace (Santi), wealth (Aisvarya), prosperity (Pushti),
satisfaction (Tushti) and Immortality (Moksha).
 3. On your birthday, repeat one lakh of this Mantra or at least 50,000;
perform Haven and feed Sadhus, the poor and the sick. This will bestow
on you long life, peace and prosperity.
Hari Om Tat Sat.
SURYA STOTRAM FOR LONGEVITY

I always adore Surya, the beautiful lord of the world, the immortal, the
quintessence of Vedanta, the auspicious, the ab-solute knowledge filled with
Brahman, the lord of the gods, ever pure, the one true consciousness of the
world, the lord of Indra, the gods and men, the preceptor of the gods, the crest-
jewel of the three worlds, the very heart of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, the giver
of light.
EVERY MORNING DOSE FOR 100 YEARS LIFE
Take equal parts of fresh lemon juice, fresh ginger juice, and honey. The
quantity of all the three be one ounce. Take this juice every morning on empty
stomach. Apart from yielding a number of most beneficial results, it will
prolong life. It is an essential morning dose for all who desire to live a hundred
years.
SURYA NAMASKAR FOR A 100 YEARS LIFE
This exercise is called Surya Namaskar because it is practised in the early
morning hours facing the Sun. Sun is considered to be the deity for health and
long life. So in ancient days they practised this exercise daily as routine in their
daily spiritual practices. One should practise it at least 12 times by repeating 12
Names of the Lord, Sun. This exercise is a combined process of Yoga Asanas
and breathing. It reduces abdominal fat, brings flexibility to the spine and limbs
and Increases breathing capacity; it is easier to practise Asana after doing Surya
Namaskar.
Technique and breathing Position No. 1. Face the sun. Fold the hands. Keep the
legs together and stand erect.
Position No. 2. Inhale and raise the hands. Bend back-wards.
Position No. 3. Exhale and bend forwards till the hands are in level with the
feet. Bring the head down and touch the knee. In the beginning, knees may be
bent slightly to get the head to the knees. After some practice knees should be
straightened up and the head should be brought down to the knees.
Position No. 4. Inhale and take the right leg away from the body. Keep the
hands and left foot firm on the ground raising the head up. Left knee should be
between the hands.
Position No. 5. Inhale and hold the air inside. Take the left leg away from the
body and raise both knees from the ground. Now rest on the hands and keep the
body in a straight line from head to foot.
Position No. 6. Exhale and bring the body down to the floor. In this position the
whole body should not touch the ground. This position is known as Sashtanga
Namaskar or eight curved prostration. Only 8 portions of the body come in
contact with floor; viz., two feet, two knees, two hands, chest and forehead.
Abdominal region is raised and, if possible, the nose also kept away from the
floor, touching with forehead only.
Position No. 7. Inhale and bend backward as much as possible giving the spine
maximum bending.
Position No. 8. Exhale and lift the body. Keep the feet and heels flat on the
ground.
Position No. 9. Inhale and bring the right foot along with the level of hands, left
foot and knee should touch the ground. Look up giving a slight bend to the
spine. (Same positon as No. 4)
Position No. 10. Exhale and bring the left leg forward. Keep the knees straight
and bring the head down to the knees as in third position. (Same position as No.
3)
Position No. 11. Inhale and bend backward. Raise the hands along with the head
as in position No. 2.
Position No. 12. Exhale and leave the hands down and re-lax.
The above 12 positions make one full-round of Surya Namaskar. Repeat it 12
times daily
RISHI CHYAVANA, ASHWINI KUMARAS AND
THE PERPETUATION OF YOUTHHOOD
Those devoted to the Science of Ayurveda and followers of this great science
look upon Maharshi Chyavana with great respect and adoration. It was he who
invented the unrivalled, unprecedented tonic Chyavanaprash for the good of
humanity. This tonic is one of the excellent gifts of Rishi Chyavana unto
mankind.
Once Maharshi Chyavana practised severe unbroken penance for a long time.
At one stage he found that his body was weak due to great penance. His desire
for penance was still fresh in him. So he thought of finding out some method by
which he could improve his health. With this object in view he invoked the
divine Ashwini Kumaras.
Pleased with the invocation of the Rishi the Ashwini Kumaras appeared before
the Rishi and enquired him of the reason for his summoning them. The Rishi
paid homage to the Kumaras and said, "0 Divine healers! I did great penance
and acquired great mental powers but my body is weak. Kindly pre-scribe for
me some such medicine by taking which my body will resume its original
strength and may live long to pursue the purpose of my life."
Hearing this the Ashwinis after deep thought replied, "0 great one of excellent
virtues and unrivalled penance, we shall give you a prescription for a rare tonic.
By this the entire humanity will be benefited. This medicine will acquire world-
fame and will be famous by your name. By taking this medicine your body will
be rejuvenated in thirty days. You will be filled with new vigour and vitality.
You will be free from old age." So saying the Kumaras disappeared.
The time for the preparation of this Rasayana is winter and spring seasons.
During these seasons the medicines will be fresh and highly beneficial in their
effects. Fresh Myrobalan forms the prominent ingredient in Chyavanaprash.
This keeps the three humours in equilibrium. Pure sugar, pure honey, ghee,
Vamasaksheri, Pippali, cardamom, Nagkesar, Darusita, Kishmish, Ashtavarga,
Dashamoola, sandal etc., form the important ingredients in this tonic. This is a
wonderful preventive tonic. It wards off number of diseases. It keeps the person
in good health. It is very useful in Asthma, difficulty in breathing, bronchitis
and consumption. It wards off debility and builds the body wonderfully.
Maharshi Chyavana prepared this tonic as per the instructions of the Ashwinis.
After administering the medicine on him-self the great Rishi regained his health.
He became a youth once again.
Charaka Samhita Says:
“Asya prayogat chyavanah suvriddhobhoot punaryuva." "By the use of this
Rishi Chyavana, though old, once again re-gained his youth."—Charaka
Samhita, 1. 72
By the use of this wonderful drug Chyavana never be-came old. By the
spreading of the knowledge of this wonderful tonic Chyavana did a great
service to humanity. A detailed description of this tonic can be had from
Charaka Samhita.
 CONTENTS
Publishers' Note 5
Preface 7
Introductory Notes 9
The Rigvedic Prayer for a Long Life 14
Ise Upanishad on Hundred Years of Life 14
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra for Long Life 15
Surya Stotram for Longevity 16
Every Morning Dose for Hundred Years' Life 16
Surya Namaskar for a Hundred Years Life 16
Rishi Chyavana, Ashwini Kumaras and the 18
Preparation of Youthhood
A Herbal Preparation for Long Life 25
Hundred Years as Man's Normal Duration of Life 26
Why Grow Old'? 27
A Call to Abundant Energy and Long Life 29
Yogic Way of Increasing the Span of Life 31
Vedantic Methods for a Hundred Years Life 32
Lengthening Life by Brahmacharya 33
Character-building for Longevity 34
Spiritual Therapeutics for Longevity 35
Shadow-gazing for Longevity 37
Exercises for Arresting Old Age 36
Yogic Secret of Conquering Death 37
How to Become a Centenarian? 38
Some Secrets of Longevity 38
A Prescription for the Perfection of the Body 39
Longevity and Transformation of Body in Indian Medicine 40
Forms of Kalpa Treatment 41
The Rejuvenation Techniques of Hindu Rishis 42
Yoga and Rejuvenation Through Kaya-kalpa 43
Rejuvenation Through Milk Treatment 44
Neem Treatment for a Hundred Years Life 48
Butter-milk Treatment for a Hundred Years Life 50
Brahmi Treatment for Hundred Years' Life 52
Ayurvedic Treatment for Hundred Years' Life 54
Naturopathic Secrets of Hundred Years' Living 56
The Attainment of Longevity 65
Increase the Duration of Life 66
Longevity Possible for Blood-pressure Patients 67
A Sure Remedy for Becoming a Centenarian 69
A Healthy Life of Hundred Years 70
Radiant Health through Yoga 79
Man Can Live Forever 86
Is There a Long-life Secret 94
Protection of the Aura and Attaining Long Life 97
Life of Some of the Centenarians 99
Longevity in Vedas 104
 A HERBAL PREPARATION
FOR LONG LIFE
Chyavanaprash is one of the best rejuvenators among Ayurvedic medicines. It
contains many herbal ingredients and hence is easily assimilable.
The most prominent herb in this preparation is the Indian Gooseberry, Known
as Amla in Hindi. This fruit is very rich in vitamin c. it contains as much
vitamin as is contained in two small oranges. It is very effective in curing many
diseases. The fresh fruit is diuretic, laxative and cooling.
Amla is good for removing indigestion. It removes excessive salivation,
biliousness, constipation, seminal and other weaknesses of men and women. It
gives luster and beauty to the skin.
Some of the other ingredients that are used in preparing this rejuvenator are
Haritha Dhatriphalam (Emblica officinalis), pure ghee, pure honey, sugar,
Vamsa Ksheeree (Banbus Arundinacia), Ashtavarg (Jivak, Rishbak, Meda,
Mahameda, Kakoli, Ksheerakakoli, Riddhi and Briddhi), Dasamoola (Ten
roots), Karkatasanghi (Pitacia Ente Gerima), red Sandalwood powder, Korangi
(Shelser Cardamom), Dharusita (Cinnamon Bark) and Somavali (Coculus
Cordifolius). Sixty other rare herbs found in the Himalayas are used along with
the above.
It is needless here to give the preparation of this wonderful drug, as it contains
many herbs and as the preparation is also cumbersome from the point of view of
the patient who is in urgent need of it. In India it is prepared on a wide scale by
many Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Works and it is convenient to use the ready-
made medicine as it is easily available in all parts of India. Unless one gets
proper practical training in the preparation of these herbal medicines under an
efficient and learned manufacturer, one should not attempt preparing these.
Chyavanaprash cures many diseases of chest and stomach also. It is highly
useful, especially in winter, when there is much tendency to cold, cough,
asthma, weak digestion, etc.
This can be taken in any season as it is rather a herbal tonic than a medicine. It
is one of the best body and brain tonic of Ayurveda.
It can be safely used by children, women and invalids, or old men. It is useful in
the cases of all persons. Its taste is good. Even while you are enjoying a state of
perfect health, you can use it as it is a rejuvenator.
Many use Chyavanaprash in winter, and thus prolong their lives till a
considerable age.
Chyavanaprash is an efficacious tonic for all wasting dis-eases like tuberculosis.
In the first stage of consumption when there is a little weakness this can be used
advantageously. It arrests the growth of the disease and even cures it, if it is in
an elementary stage. It is highly useful in convalescence. It develops the brain-
power and tones up the vocal system. It cures all ailments of the lungs, and the
urinary system.
It can be best taken on an empty stomach in the early morning with a little milk.
For an adult, one teaspoonful is to be taken in the morning followed by quarter
seer of warm fresh milk. When using this medicine take 'Drakshasav', one tea-
spoonful after each meal, if one's condition is too weak.
Poor men who cannot afford to have this may not be dis-heartened. They can
take the juice of fresh Amla daily when they are available and at other times
they can take a teaspoonful of dried Amla powder. It is also equally useful and
efficacious. It can be taken with honey or sugar.
Chyavanaprash is quite sufficient to give health, strength and long life. Among
the various medicines of Ayurvedic, this may be called as an Elixir of Life.
HUNDRED YEARS AS MAN'S NORMAL
DURATION OF LIFE
"That one may attain to the age of one hundred years or more, is no visionary
statement. According to psychological and natural laws, the duration of human
life should be at least five times the period necessary to reach full growth. This
is a prevailing law which is exemplified in the brute creation. The horse grows
about four years and lives to about 12 to 14; the camel grows for eight years and
lives to about 40. Man grows for about 20 to 25 years,—if accidents could be
excluded,—his normal duration of life should not be less than one hundred
years," so says Milton Severen of the West.
Just compare this to the period of life declared by the Srutis, Puranas and the
Sastras of the Hindus and the period of Studentship and Brahmacharya is alone
full 25 years. Srutis or sacred texts declare full life or the age of one hundred
years for a man.
This you can attain by establishment of Brahmacharya. And so Patanjali
Maharshi, the author of Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga, says: "Brahmachatya-
Pratishthayam Veerya Labha". It is on the mere attainment or establishment of
Achara that you may be able to attain full age, even if you are devoid of all
other qualities, by the establishment of Achara only. Achara is character-
building. You must have good character. Other-wise you will lose your
Brahmacharya or Veerya—the vital energy— and thereby attain premature
death.
There are instances of men who have attained longevity and intellectual powers
despite their loose immoral ways. Obviously this is due to'their Prarabdha. But
they would have been still more powerful and brilliant had they possessed a
good character and continence as well.
WHY GROW OLD?
(Scientific Researches for Postponing the Physical Process of Ageing in Man)
Advances in medical knowledge have given new impetus to research aimed at
postponing the physical process of ageing in man. At the several American
Universities, studies are being conducted on how body-cells age, why they fail
to stay active and productive into late years. Dr. Edward L. Bortz, President of
the American Medical Association, believes man's average life span, measured
against that of animals, should be 150 years instead of the present life
expectancy of 68 years.
Researchers want to find out why man is not living up to his expectations. Is it
an accumulation of his experiences, both physical and emotional, that makes his
age? A newly-established Institute of Human Nutrition at Northwestern
University (Evanston, Illinois) is attacking this problem from the diet angle to
see whether what man eats and drinks contributes to ageing.
Metabolic Disorders
The Fels Research Institute for the study of Human Development at Antioch
College (Yellow Springs, Ohio), is studying the effects on the human body of
man's experiences from birth to maturity, Columbia University (New York
City) is concentrating on heredity and environment.
A clue to what ageing might be was noted recently by Dr. Andrew C. Ivy of the
University of Illinois. Degeneration, he thinks, is a group of changes in which
abnormal materials collect in and between the cell-walls of the human body.
They might be due to metabolic disorders of the cells arising from la-tent
weaknesses or external factors, or both.
Effect of Diet
Dr. I.A. Landis of George Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) is
investigating a calcium-binding protein that appears to control cell-growth and
can become both overactive or underactive. In the cell-ageing process, this
substance be-comes overactive, binding too much calcium.
Dr. C. Ward Crompton of New York City points out that yearly, millions of
people die of chronic diseases, and that preventive medicine must step in. A
sample of what he has in mind are tests at the University of Minnesota. There
500 men be-tween 18 and 54 have volunteered for a ten-years study of factors
which lead to hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. Seven
researchers in physiological hygiene under world famous physiologist Dr. Ancel
Keys hope to find whether physical activity on diet can prevent or delay
degenerative diseases.
Worry and Tension
Special attention also is being focussed on the effects of worry and tensions,
found capable of turning youngsters into criminals. In all instances which Dr.
David Abrahamsen investigated in New York City, he found that the family
backgroung of criminals was tension, hostility, resentment and nagging. These
conditions not only bred criminals, but illness as well—trouble with heart, skin,
respiration or digestion and in turn possible origins of degenerative diseases.
Thirty years from now the number of age-disabled per-sons between 60 and 75
is expected to be double that of today. But through present research in
geriatrics, the study of old age, many of them may be able to contribute to
society more of their useful fund of wisdom and experience.
A CALL TO ABUNDANT ENERGY
AND LONG LIFE
Health, and not disease, is your natural heritage. You are the children of that
Anaamaya or diseaseless Purusha, the Eternal Brahman or the Absolute. Claim
your birth right now, this very second and become healthy, strong, robust, and
sinewy, with abundant vigour, energy, a high standard of vitality and with an
expectation of a hundred years of life.
Disease and short life is due to ignorance and lack of knowledge of natural
laws. You violate the laws of health through your egoism, passion and self-
assertive nature. You behave like a playful urchin, and yet Mother Nature who
is all merciful and kind, who is ever bountiful, puts up patiently with all your
misbehaviour and wrong-doing and helps you in a variety of ways, bestowing
on you her choicest blessings. Gain a thorough knowledge of the laws of perfect
health, and abide by them; you will live a hundred years.
Science and Prolongation of Life
Many brilliant investigators in the mystery of life and death are still baffled as
to this cause of decline and decay of the body. Life is kept up by the
reproduction of human cells. A cell is a mass of protoplasm containing nucleus.
Man is made up of different groups and species of cells which perform different
mechanism. These cells are constantly broken down and renewed. A time
comes when cells lose their power of reproduction. Now man begins to age. At
one time it was said that every part of the body is wholly renewed every seven
years but now it is said that the period is only about a year and half.
There are various kinds of tissues, viz., muscular tissue, nervous tissue, etc.
There are different kinds of systems, viz., the digestive or alimentary system
which consists of mouth, pharynx, gullet, stomach, small and large intestines;
the circu-latory system which consists of heart, the arteries and veins; the
lymphatic system which consists of lacteals, lymphatis and lymphatic glands;
the muscular system; the integumentary sys-tem which consists of skin or the
epidermis, the cuticle or dermis, the sweat glands secrete sweat and the
sebaceous glands which secrete sebum or fat; the urinar system which consists
of kidneys, the bladder, the urethras; the reproductive system which consists of
reproductive organ in males and the uterus and ovaries in females and the
endocrine system which consists of the thyroid and parathyroid in the neck,
pernials and pituitary glands in the brain and the adrenals. Metabolism is the
sum-total of the anabolic (constructive) and katabolic (destructive) changes that
go on in the tissues of the body.
One scientist believes that the secret of death is the blood system. He treats the
blood with a chemical preparation. An-other scientist believes that the seat of
life is the thyroid gland. He therefore replaces a worn-out thyroid gland with a
new young virile gland from a chimpanzee. Another scientist holds that the
senility is due to dissipation affecting some major glands of the human body.
Many weak, prematurely decrepit people are transformed into healthy men and
women by the ad-ministration of extracts of these glands by injection or by
mouth. These modern miracles happen every day. But they only restore
diseased people to health; they don't prolong life beyond the normal span or
solve the riddle of eternal youth. They will not even enable a healthy man of
eighty to reach the age of hundred. That man will still die from the mysterious
pro-cess of degeneration of cells which is called "old age".
Rejuvenation when the patient is elderly and the human machine, the most
magical of all machines, is wearing out, has only a temporary effect, as a bottle
of whisky that stimulates a tired man. Relapse quickly follows. The eyes, bright
for a short time become dull once more. The brain works vigorously for a brief
period only. Afterwards weakness reasserts itself. The whole organism relapses
into a state of greater decrepitude than before; it has been called on to work
beyond its strength and capacity by the forced stimulation of the artificially
treated glands. If scientists could discover the secret of persuading the cells
which compose the human body to renew themselves even in old age as they do
in youth there would be no practical limits of human life.
Beauty, gracefulness, strength and adamantine hardness indicate that you are in
possession of a perfect body. As food is only a mass of energy, the body can be
kept from any other source, such as Sun, Cosmic Prana, Will, etc. Hatha Yogic
Kriyas and meditation entirely renovate the system and give new strength,
vigour, and vitality to the cells. Yogis know how to absorb the energy and
utilise it for the economic aid to nature in the preservation of the body. They
possess the power to bear extreme cold and heat, the power to live without food
and drink (drawing the energy from their pure, strong and irresistible will).
Vayubhakshanam is another way of maintaining the body by swallowing or
taking in the air. The body becomes indestructible. Nothing can injure it. There
is no more disease, death or pain for that Yogi.
YOGIC WAY OF INCREASING
THE SPAN OF LIFE
According to Yoga, man's life is constituted of so many breaths. The number of
respiration per minute is fifteen. If you can reduce the number of breaths by the
practice of Kumbhaka or retention of breath, or stop the breath through
Khechari Mudra you can increase your span of life.
Yogi Chang Dev who came on the back of a tiger to see Jnana Dev, the Yogi of
Alandi, in Maharashtra, lived for hundreds of years. Whenever Lord Yama, the
God of death, appeared before him, he took his Prana into the Sushumna and
entered into Samadhi. He thus defied the god of death. Yogis attain the Siddhi
to die at their own will (Iccha Mrityu).
VEDANTIC METHODS FOR
A HUNDRED YEAR LIFE
Thou art divine. Live up to it. Feel and realise thy Divine Nature. Thou art the
master of destiny. Do not be discouraged when sorrows, diseases, difficulties
and tribulations manifest in the daily battle of life.
Draw up courage and spiritual strength from within. There is a vast
inexhaustible magazine of power and knowledge within. Learn the ways to tap
the source. Dive deep within. Sit down. Plunge in the sacred waters of
immortality, the Holy Triveni within. You will be quite refreshed, renovated
and vivified when you go to the Divine Source and realise: "I am the Immortal
Self."
Do not murmur. Do not grumble when troubles and sorrows descend upon you.
Every difficulty is an opportunity for you to develop your will and to grow
strong. Welcome it. Difficulties strengthen your will, augment your power of
endurance and turn your mind towards God. Face them with a smile. In your
weakness lies your real strength. Thou art invincible. Nothing can harm you.
Conquer the difficulties one by one. Build up positive virtuous qualities. Tread
the spiritual path and realise: "I am the Immortal Self."
Face everything with a smiling, cheerful countenance. Understand His
mysterious ways. He is thy Immortal Friend. Re-peat the following formulae
mentally several times daily. Meditate on the meaning. Chronic incurable
diseases that are declared hopeless by a board of eminent doctors can be cured
by this method. This is an unfailing, infallible divine remedy. Sometimes you
will have to wait patiently for results. Auto-suggestion is only an off-shoot of
Vedanta. The formula of this school, viz., "Through the Grace of God, I am
becoming better and better day by day, in every way" is only a Vedantic
assertion and affirmation.
Sing now, feel and assert:
Ananda Svarupoham
I am an embodiment of happiness
I am Bliss in Essence
Anamayoham, I am diseaseless Atman
I am all-health
I am neither body nor mind
I am the embodiment of Arogyam
No disease can enter my body
My will is pure and irresistible
I am deathless and immortal

People say: "One apple a day keeps the doctor away." This is costly. This is
doubtful. I say: "Live in the spirit of the above formulae. This alone can keep
the doctors away.
This is dead cheap. This is a sure sovereign specific and a sheet-anchor and a
cure-all. Doctor's bills and worry can be saved. This will give you Self-
realisation as well. Believe me. Give up doubting. I assure you. Thou art not this
perishable body. Rejoice in Sat-Chit-Ananda and free yourself from dis-ease
and death!
LENGTHENING LIFE BY BRAHMACHARYA
Preservation of the creative energy of man leads to perfection of the body,
rejuvenation and longevity. If the spermatic secretion in man is continuous, it
must either be expelled or re-absorbed. As a result of the most patient and
ceaseless scientific investigations, whenever the seminal secretions are
conserved and thereby reabsorbed into the system, it goes to-wards enriching
the blood and strengthening the brain. "The conservation of this element is
essential to strengthen the body, vigour of mind and keenness of intellect,"
teaches Dr. Dio Lewis.
"All waste of spermatic secretions, whether voluntary or involuntary, is a direct
waste of life-force. It is almost universally conceded that the choicest elements
of the blood enter into the composition of the spermatic secretions. If these
conclusions are correct, then it follows that a chaste life is essential to man's
well-being." This has been written by Dr. E.P. Miller.
Brahmacharya is the basis for the attainment of Kaya Siddhi. Complete celibacy
must be observed. This is of para-mount importance. By the practice of Yoga
the semen be-comes transmuted into Ojas-Sakti. All the cells are vivified or
galvanised by the power of Ojas.
The Practice of Brahmacharya, Pranayama, Sirshasana and other Hatha Yogic
Kriyas and meditation, entirely renovates the system and gives new strength,
vigour and vitality to the cells. The Yogi will have a perfect body. There will be
charm and grace in his movements. He can live as long as he likes (Iccha
Mrityu). That is the reason why Lord Krishna says to Arjuna. "Tasmat Yogee
Bhava-Arjuna"—therefore become a Yogi.
If a Yogi acquires Kaya-Siddhi or perfection of his body, all diseases and
tendencies to disease will vanish. He will not be affected by the pairs of
opposites like heat and cold. There will be diminution or disappearance of
excretions. The craving of hunger and thirst vanishes. He may take very little
food or completely abandon food. Pain of any sort disappears. He may
experience some pleasant feelings in place of heat, cold and pain. The Siddhis—
Anima, Mahima, Laghima come under Kaya-Siddhi.
CHARACTER-BUILDING FOR LONGEVITY
It is on the mere attainment or establishment of Achara that you may be able to
attain full age and eternal happiness. You can attain full age even if you are
devoid of all other qualities, by the establishment of Achara only. Achara is
character-building. You must have good character, otherwise you will lose your
Brahmacharya or Veerya—the vital energy—and thereby attain premature
death. Srutis declare full life or age of one hundred years for a man. This you
can attain only by the establishment of Brahmacharya.
You have to remember one thing more. The secret of longevity may be based
chiefly upon discretion in the choice of food and drink, temperance, sobriety,
chastity and a hopeful optimistic outlook on life and so, gluttons, drunkards, the
idle, the dissipated or the lazy cannot reasonably hope to attain full age.
SPIRITUAL THERAPEUTICS FOR LONGEVITY
Anger generates poison in the blood and heat in the blood, brain, liver and the
whole body; it produces fever, depression, etc.
Hatred causes nervous weakness, uneasiness, restless-ness, cough, fever, loss of
blood, indigestion, etc.
Fear causes low blood-pressure and weakness, destroys red blood-cells, makes
the face pale, affects the heart, liver and stomach and produces indigestion,
diarrhoea or constipation and impotency.
Renunciation removes a host of ailments, such as dyspepsia, rheumatism,
diabetes, diseases of the liver and intestines and blood-pressure, strengthens the
heart, brain and nerves.
Pure love produces joy, peace of mind, harmonious functioning of the bodily
organs, increases the blood qualitatively and quantitatively, and turns the mind
towards God.
Truth strengthens the heart and mind, brings peace of mind, happiness, inner
calmness and spiritual strength. It creates fearlessness.
Meditation is a wonderful tonic which tones all systems and organs, renovates
the cells, removes diseases, checks the development of diseases and prolongs
life beyond expectation.
Elimination of anger, hatred and fear constitute the psychological technique for
the prolonging of life, for keeping death at a distance. The cultivation of
renunciation, the development of love, abiding by truth and practice of
meditation constitute the spiritual therapeutics for a hundred years life.
 SHADOW-GAZING FOR LONGEVITY
The invocation of shadow gives the objects seen as well as unseen.
Undoubtedly a man becomes pure by its very sight. The shadow can also
answer any question you may desire to ask. The Yogic practitioner who is able
to know whether his undertakings will be crowned with success or not. Those
Yogis who have realised the benefits of concentration fully have declared: "In a
clear sun-lit sky behold with a steady gaze your own reflection; whenever this is
seen for a single second in the sky, you behold God at once in the sky." He who
daily sees his shadow in the sky will acquire longevity. He will never meet with
accidental death. When the shadow is seen fully reflected, when the Yogic
practitioner gets victory and success, he conquers Prana and goes everywhere.
The practice is simple enough. One realises the fruits in a short time. Some have
realised the fruits in one or two weeks. When the sun rises, stand in such a way
that your body casts a shadow upon the ground and you are able to see it
without difficulty. Then steadily fix your gaze on the neck of the shadow for
some time and then look up into the sky, it is very auspicious. The shadow will
answer any question for you. If you do not get the shadow continue the practice
till you get it. You can practise this in the moonlight also.
EXERCISES FOR ARRESTING OLD AGE
With advancing age toxicity is inevitable. If that is arrested, humanly speaking,
illness due to advancing age can be arrested.
Toxicity due to advancing age can be arrested by combining the following
methods:
Vipareeta Karani, not less than one hour both morning and evening.
Sarasvati Chalana, not less than 45 minutes, both morning and evening.
Sarasvati Chalana is to be immediately followed by Bhastrika.
And Bandhatraya in the following order: first, Sarasvati Chalana, second
Jalandhara Bandha, third, Uddiyana Bandha and fourth Mulabandha.
If the above be combined with Kevala Kumbhaka, old age onset can be arrested.
YOGIC SECRET OF CONQUERING DEATH
The person who is an adept in controlling the function of the three Nadis, Ida,
Pingala and Sushumna, and who can still the Prana in Sushumna, cleanses the
mind, and he alone can cheat or transcend time, Kaala or death.
The person who has thus stilled the Prana in Sushumna should attempt to lead it
towards Brahmarandhra and then he will experience Samadhi or the super
conscious State. The Yogi knows the time of his death. He takes his Prana to
Sushumna, leads it to Brahmarandhra and defies time or death.
Time or Death is called Kaala. Too many events are linked by time; hence, He
is called so--Kalayati iti Kaalah. Birth and death are within time. To go beyond
time is to go beyond birth and death, to attain Immortality.
The two Nadis, the Sun or Pingala and the Moon or Ida, determine the day and
night for all beings. When they are functioning, day and night are passing one
after another, life gets exhausted thereby. Every time you exhale, you lose four
angulas (inches) of breath; you inhale eight angulas whereas you exhale twelve
angulas. In mortals, mainly the Chandra Nadi functions. By checking the flow
through Chandra Nadi one can live longer. By controlling the flow through both
the Nadis, Ida and Pingala, one lives for a very long time.
Sushumna is the eater of time. This is the greatest Yogic secret. By confining
the breath to Sushumna, one enjoys sound health and infinitely prolongs life. By
leading the breath along the Sushumna to the crown of the head, one attains
Immortality, drinks Amrita, Nectar.
When you detect Death, restrain your breath in Sushumna, Death will run away
from you. That is how you should get over death and enjoy good health and
prolong life indefinitely.
HOW TO BECOME A CENTENARIAN?
Do not worry. Never be in a hurry. Do not eat what you call quick lunches.
Take nutritious food. Sleep seven hours a day. Never fool with doctors and do
not go into a drug-store except to get a stamp or to consult the directory. When
you reach the age of ninety years, you may do as you please.
Wear loose collars, because tight collars present obstacles to the free circulation
of the blood through the thyroid gland. Take large quantities of milk, this being
the extract of various glands. Remain as much as possible in the open air and
especially in the sunshine, and take plenty of exercise, taking care to breathe
deeply and regularly. Take a bath daily and in addition once a week or every
two weeks take a Turkish or vapour bath. Wear porous clothing, light head-
dress and low shoes. Go early to bed and rise early. "Early to bed and early to
rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." Sleep in a very dark, very quiet
room and with a window open, and do not sleep less than six or more than
seven and a half hours. Give up alcohol. Be temperate in the use of tea or
coffee. Avoid places that are overheated, especially by stress, and badly
ventilated.

SOME SECRETS OF LONGEVITY

You have to remember: The secrets of longevity may be based chiefly upon
discretion in the choice of food and drink, temperance, sobriety, chastity, and a
hopeful optimistic outlook on life; and so gluttons, drunkards, the idle, the
dissipated or the lazy, cannot reasonably hope to attain full age.
A PRESCRIPTION FOR THE PERFECTION OF
THE BODY
Rishi Vagbhata has prescribed a treatment in his Ashtanga Hridaya, Chapter 39,
verse 28 to 32 for attaining Kaya Siddhi. Here is a translation of his method of
Kaya Kalpa treatment:
"Cut the top of a healthy growing 'Palasha tree' (Bhutes Frondosa) and insert
into the hollow made in the Palasha stem upto a depth of two cubits the pulp of
fresh Amla fruits (Emblica phyllanthus) and tie round the stem upto the bottom
"boob" grass and cover it up with mud taken from a lotus pond; and then let the
humidity dry up by setting fire to the stem in a heap of dungcakes in a place
excluded from draught.
"The 'Amla' fruit pulp so dried up is to be taken with honey and butter by a man
to his heart's content, and boiled milk is to be taken after it to his heart's desire.
This treatment is to be pursued for a month. Those things are to be avoided
carefully which are prescribed for avoidance in such practice, and cold water
should not be touched even with the hand.
"Then after the expiry of the eleventh day, the hair, teeth, and nails begin to fall
off; and after some days the man regains his old form, possessing imperishable
strength equal to that of an elephant. With improved muscles, strength, intellect
and vitality he lives a thousand years".
Some Ayurvedic physicians say that the treatment is in-tended for middle-aged
men, and according to the text, the patient has to be kept in a room surrounded
by double rooms of verandas, one after the other, the arches of which have to be
enclosed with bricks except for passages on either side, which have to be
covered with Pardas (curtain) and small light holes for the access of light. The
room has, otherwise to be excluded completely from the entry of sun, heat or
draught of air, and an even temperature has to be maintained day and night.
The wrinkles on his face will disappear and he will look very young with
lustrous face. He will be able to read without glasses in dim light of the ghee-
fed wick, which is the sole lamp kept in the chamber of treatment. The
treatment is carried on for 45 days. Several other unusual and extraordinary
results will emerge. The body is perfected.
LONGEVITY AND TRANSFORMATION
OF BODY
IN INDIAN MEDICINE
This is an age of science. This is an age of scientific discoveries and inventions.
Life is under great tension. Rivalry and competition are intense. Man exerts
more. There is a great tension on his brain and nerves. He is under great
excitement. He is restless. There is undue strain on his nerves and brain. He gets
exhausted quickly. There is great struggle in the daily battle of Life.
Ayurveda shows you the way to attain a high standard of health, vim, vigour,
vitality and longevity. It solves the riddle of old age. It helps you to preserve the
youth. It gives a scientific description of the process of rejuvenation, Kaya
Kalpa.
Chyavana and other sages of yore who had a broken and debilitated constitution
on account of old age renewed their vigour of life and lived for countless years
by undergoing Kaya Kalpa treatment.
He prepared a confection out of various herbs and took it. That herbal
preparation is known by the name Chyavanaprash. This is still used by the
people of India.
Mandavya Rishi who lived in the Vindhya Mountains took an Elixir. He got
perpetual youth through the use of drugs.
The Sankrit word 'Kaya' means body and `Kalpa' means transformation or
rejuvenation. Kaya Kalpa is that form of treat-ment which restores the aged and
debilitated body to its pristine youth and vigour, re-establishes the full
potentialities of the senses and gives good health. Kaya Kalpa adds new life to
years and new years to life.
Scientists also are attempting to find out the Elixir of life which will combat
against decay and produce vigour and youth in the old and conquer the fear of
death.
Kaya Kalpa restores the natural balance to Vatha, Pitta and Kapha, brings the
functions of Saptadhatus to a normal condition and cures many incurable
diseases. Kaya Kalpa should be conducted under the expert guidance of very
competent Ayurvedic physician.
The life-long accumulation of various poisons in the sys-tem causes decay, old
age and death. Therefore one should take recourse to Pancha Karmas for
purifying the body before he begins Kaya Kalpa treatment. The Pancha Karmas
are; 1. Nasya Karma (nasal purge), 2. Vamana Karma (emitics), 3. Virechana
Karma (purgatives), 4. Niropa Vasti (clearing Enemata), 5. Anuvasana Vasti
(soothing Enemata).
FORMS OF KALPA TREATMENT
Kuti Pravesika Kalpa: One remains in a dark cell. He lives on a black cow's
milk alone. He should not take a shave. He should not touch cold water. He
lives in seclusion. He is cut off from friends and society. This gives complete
rejuvenation.
Aja Kalpa: This is rejuvenation through goat's milk. The goat should yield 4
pounds of milk. Salt, chillies, tea and coffee are forbidden. This Kalpa cures
definitely diabetes, dyspepsia, asthma, rheumatism and debility.
Ghrita Kalpa: Pure cow's ghee is taken in cow's milk every morning for two
months in winter.
Harad Kalpa: Harad is Hareetaki or myrobalan. One big Harad (Terminalia
chebula) is taken in the morning for 41 days.
Somalata Kalpa: This process is a difficult, delicate and drastic one. The patient
becomes unconscious for some days. The skin peels off. He comes back to
consciousness and be-comes a blooming youth.
Bodhi Kalpa: One regains lost memory. This is highly beneficial for all brain
workers, professors, lawyers and doctors, students and scholars. No Pancha
Karma is necessary. This is very easy. It can be taken for a week or more. Give
up oil, chillies, sour things, ice, tea, etc.
Kesha Kalpa: Grey hair becomes black through this Kalpa. There is no Pancha
Karma or food restriction. It should be taken under the supervision of an
experienced Ayurvedic physician. It causes vomiting.
THE REJUVENATION TECHNIQUES
OF HINDU RISHIS
From time immemorial the Hindu Rishis succeeded in de-vising means to
discover remedies which can help one to attain astounding longevity retaining
all the physical and mental powers intact till the last breath. Kaya Kalpa
Chikitsa aims at rejuvenation of physical and mental powers and the attainment
of longevity.
The body is a boat to cross the ocean of phenomenal existence. It behoves
therefore, that it should be kept strong and healthy. That is the reason why many
said, "Sareeram Adyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam.”“This body is the foremost
means for practising Dharma."
With the advent of Kaya Kalpa treatment taken by the Founder of the Baranas
Hindu Unversity, Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviyaji, many people developed a
fad for Kaya-Kalpa. There is much exaggeration regarding the results of this
treat-ment.
A man who has not lived a life of discipline, who has not led a well-regulated
life is not likely to get success in this treat-ment. Kaya-Kalpa treatment is
certainly not meant for all. It is meant only for those sincere thirsty aspirants
who are struggling hard to attain Self-realisation in this very birth and those
who have dedicated their lives to the service of Humanity.
It is a great mistake to take recourse to Kaya-Kalpa treat-ment for a mere sense-
life. This science of Kaya-Kalpa treat-ment has been evolved by the Rishis of
yore on a distinct spiritual basis. Exclusive materialistic life, without ethical
discipline, self-restraint and spiritual ideal, has entirely ruined the people. Food,
sleep, fear and copulation are common in beasts and human beings; but that
which differentiates man from beast is the power of discrimination and Vichara
Sakti.
Herbal remedies are prepared by special methods. The subject is put on a
special diet. He lives in a specially constructed cottage which contains all
requisites for the treatment. Kuti Prabasick Rasayana imposes such restrictions,
whereas Batatap form of Rasayana does not impose any such restriction.
Mercury plays an important role in the Rasayana Therapy of Ayurveda.
Mercury is Sivabeeja. Mercury aided by special vehicles of "Nurpana" bestows
youthful vigour. Mercury that is subjected to eighteen processes of purification
confers strength, vitality and long life and wards off the infirmities of old age.
Signs of youth health and beauty reappear, if the treat-ment becomes successful.
Grey hairs become black. Eye-sight improves.
What is wanted now is a spiritual Kaya-Kalpa which can purge the world of
sinfulness and restlessness and restore its youthful purity and peace and
establish the Kingdom of God among men. Spiritual Kaya-Kalpa is far superior
to physical Kaya-Kalpa. Spiritual Kaya-Kalpa can be obtained through regular
silent meditation. Yogis drink the nectar of Immortality. Glory to the Rishis of
yore who discovered this sublime science of Kaya-Kalpa. May their blessings
be upon all!

YOGA AND REJUVENATION THROUGH

KAYA-KALPA
The process of Rejuvenation through the administration of Kaya-Kalpa
according to the method of Yogis and Rishis and Ayurveda is not to be
confounded with that of the Western method adopted by scientists and doctors,
where the object is purely on the physical basis.
The process of rejuvenation through Kaya-Kalpa is in the keeping of the Great
Tapasvins. Kaya-Kalpa is the real elixir of life by which the Rasayanas make
the body immortal.
They can keep the body strong and healthy as long as they like. The body is an
instrument with which we try to attain the goal of life. Suppose a man desires to
practise Yoga. He dies before he attains the highest Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Then
he takes up another body and starts again the Yogic practices. He dies again
before he makes any substantial progress. In this manner much time is lost in
dying and being born again.
Therefore, if the body is rendered strong and healthy, if birth and death can be
got rid of, you will have ample time to do Yoga Sadhana and you will attain the
goal of life in one birth. This is the theory of Rasayanas. They teach to
immortalise the body, first by means of Kaya-Kalpa made out of herbs or
mercury or sulphur, Neem or Amalaka fruits, in order to achieve the goal of
Yoga in this very life.
The body is the mould prepared by the mind for its operations. It is the mind
that manufactures the body. This physical sheath is thrown out at death and the
mind puts on another new sheath in the next birth, just as a man puts on new
cloth by throwing out the worn-out garment. The mind can draw any amount of
power from the universal store-house of energy. If the mind can manufacture
another new body in the next birth, why can it not do it just here and now,
without dissolving this present body, by renewing the cells which make up this
human body? This is the theory of Rasayanas. This theory is quite correct,
sound, logical and tenable.
 REJUVENATION THROUGH MILK
TREATMENT
(Dugdha Kayakalpa)
Salutations and adorations to the two Aswini Kumaras, the Divine Physicians
and Lord Dhanwantari (Avatara of Vishnu Bhagavan) the expounder of
Ayurvedic system of treat-ment.
Dhanwantari, the Divine Physician of mankind, has said:
Achyuta-ananta-govinda-naamoccharana-bheshajaat, Nashyanti sakala
rogaah satyam satyam vadamyaham.
"The repetition of the Divine Names of the Lord, Achyuta, Ananta and Govinda
cures all diseases. I speak the Truth".
Such is the power of the Divine Names. But for people who are not endowed
with that living, dynamic faith in God and His Names, he further gave to
humanity the system of treat-ment called the Ayurveda. For the treatment of
chronic dis-eases you have got what is called Kaya-Kalpa. Kaya Kalpa is of
different types.
Kaya Kalpa means bringing in of new life in the body which is suffering from
chronic diseases or old age. It means also renewed health, vigour and vitality.
Yogis used to live hundreds of years by means of Kaya Kalpa.
Another meaning of Kaya Kalpa is entering a new body al-together. This is
done by Yogis by Parakayapravesha also by entering other bodies giving up the
present one. This is not possible for all but is reserved for adepts in that branch
of Yoga.
Here I shall explain briefly the Dugdha Kaya Kalpa or rejuvenation by milk-
treatment. You should not read this out of mere curiosity. Each one of you
should try this seriously and spread this knowledge to your friends also.
For bringing about a radical change in one's health, to effect cure of chronic
diseases we get details of various Kaya Kalpas. The pre-eminent among them is
the Dugdha Kaya Kalpa. For this you require pure cow's milk freshly drawn.
Through this Kaya Kalpa you get good health and long life. Our ancient Rishis
took recourse to these Kaya Kalpas to have long life, not for enjoying the
pleasures of the senses indefinitely, but for keeping themselves fit for doing
service to humanity and continuing their devotional practices for Self-
realisation.
The Dugdha (milk) Kaya Kalpa can be done both with cow's milk as well as
with goat's milk. They are effective in curing the three kinds of diseases arising
out of Vatha, Pitta and Kapha (wind, bile and phlegm). These three are
considered to be the root-cause of all diseases. A particular disease can be
traced to any one of these causes. Gomutra Kalpa is used to cure the diseases
born of poisoning. This is done with the help of mainly cow's urine.
The method of milk-treatment described below should be practised for 30 days.
You will be free from many a vexing disease. Complete restraint should be
effected in matters of sex, taking onions, chillies, and other irritating foodstuffs
for the entire Kaya Kalpa period. This Kalpa is effective in headaches, fevers,
consumption, dysentery and constipation. It will bestow on you good health,
youth and Tejas (brilliance in your face).
The suitable time for undertaking this treatment is after winter or before
summer. The spring season is particularly favourable, for this part of the year is
neither too hot nor too cold.
The commencement of the treatment should be done in Uttarayana when the sun
is in the Northern Solstice and the bright fortnight of the month (Shukla
Paksha). Special care should be taken to see that during your period of treatment
you should not do any physical exercise or work involving physical exertion.
Before commencing your treatment you should cleanse your bowels well by a
good purgative preferably by Triphala powder or purified Hareetaki
(myrobalan). This will remove all the accumulated dirt in the system.
Pure fresh cow's milk plays the vital part in this treatment. Take 9 chhataks (45
tolas) of cow's milk in a brass vessel well coated with lead. Add to it 15 tolas of
juice of bitter gourd. If you cannot get bitter gourd juice you can add 6 Mashas
of Triphala powder or 9 Mashas of Trikatuchoorna. Trikatuchoorna is pow-der
of dried ginger, pepper and Pipal (long pepper). This is mixed in equal
quantities of 3 tolas each. Every time the three powders should be mixed fresh.
Triphala or Trikatuchoorna can be had from any good Ayurveda store. Mix the
powder in cow's milk. Heat the milk in gentle fire. Reduce it to half a seer (8
Chhataks). Then allow the milk to cool. Add one tola of sugar-candy. On the
first day take this milk only. You should not take any other food. If you feel like
taking anything later in the day towards evening you can take some fruit-juice
either of orange or Mosumbi.
On the second day have 13 Chhataks of milk. Mix one-third quantity of bitter
gourd juice. If you add Trikatu or Triphala add one Masha extra every day. Heat
the milk as before. Allow it to cool. Add sugar-candy like the previous day and
take the milk.
Thus you should continue for one full month. You can in-crease 4 Chhataks of
milk every day and one-third quantity of milk should be the juice of bitter gourd
or one Masha more of Triphala powder every day for the whole month. A
tabular state-ment showing the quantity of milk and juice or powder referred to
above is given below for your ready reference:

Date Milk Juice of gourd Triphala Trikatu powder

1. 9 chhataks 3 chhataks 6 mashas 9 mashas
2. 13 chhataks 4 ½ chhataks 7 mashas 10 mashas
3. 1 seer 1 ch 5 ½ chhataks 8 mashas 11 mashas
4. 1 seer 5 ch 7 chhataks 9 mashas 1 tola
5. 1 seer 9 ch 8 ½ chhataks 10 mashas 1 tola 1 ma.
6. 1 seer 13 ch 9 ½ chhataks 11 mashas 1 tola 2 ma.
7. 2 seer ch 11 chhataks 1 tola 1 tola 3 ma.

Thus on the 30th day you will take 7 seers 13 Chhataks of milk and 2 seers and
9 Chhataks of juice of gourd. If you add Triphala powder the quantity on the
30th day would be 2 tolas and 3 Mashas; and if it is Trikatu powder the quantity
on the 30th day would be 3 tolas and 2 Mashas.
Sugar-candy powder can be added to suit your taste. The quantity of milk
reduced after heating on the 30th day should be 14 Chhataks less, that is, in
every 9 Chhataks you should reduce by heating the quantity of one Chhatak.
During the treatment you should observe celibacy. You should avoid physical or
mental exertion. You should not keep long vigils at night. You should speak
less. In the intervals you should take only juice of orange or Mosumbi. Buffalo's
milk should not be used in this Kalpa.
This can cure chronic diseases. This is good in cases of tuberculosis, piles,
impurity in blood, etc. Have faith and carry out the instructions faithfully if you
want to have permanent cure. This is a wonderful cure—Kaya Kalpa. Have faith
and do it yourself. After all, the treatment is not very difficult; neither the
quantity of milk is too little in the beginning or too much in the end. Have
perfect faith.
Repeat the Names of the Lord incessantly. This is the first and foremost
remedy. Have faith in His Names. You will be cured of all diseases.
May you all attain good health, long life, peace, plenty and prosperity!
NEEM TREATMENT FOR
A HUNDRED YEAR LIFE
It is an admitted fact that herbs possess curative effect to a very high degree.
The benefits of Indian herbs are known throughout the world. Herbal treatment
is unparalleled in effect. Among herbs Neem occupies a very distinctive
position.
It is beyond the power of words to describe the curative effect of this wonderful
tree. Every part of this tree is useful. From very ancient times we have heard the
glory of this tree. It is capable of destroying to the root many incurable diseases.
Leaves, flowers and bark of this tree are highly useful. These act unfailingly in
giving the maximum benefit to the patient and make the treatment successful.
People of good health derive the maximum benefit of this treatment as a
recuperative tonic. The rules enjoined in the observance of this Kalpa have to be
strictly adhered to ensure the maximum result. Care should be taken to see that
nothing is done by the patient which will go against his interests, i.e., he should
be careful in following the rules relating to the treatment. March, April, October
and November are the months highly beneficial in undertaking this Kalpa. Both
men and women can derive the maximum benefit by undertaking the Neem
treat-ment. Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday are favourable in commencing the
treatment for men. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are days suitable
for women.
Before commencement of the treatment bowels should be cleared by a
purgative. The observance of the following rules will be highly useful.
Live in seclusion. Speak slowly, moderately. Maintain celibacy. Remain in
well-ventilated rooms. Rise up from bed early morning. General rules of. Health
and hygiene should be adhered to.
Neem Kalpa can be successfully carried out within 31 days. Take one Masha of
combined Trivarga (leaves, flowers and bark of neem). Mix them all. Paste it
well with water. Make pills. The pills are to be taken with fresh water drawn
from well or river. Similarly in the evening prepare pills of weight one Masha
and take them with fresh water. Three hours later take pure cow's milk half a
seer. Take milk at least 3 times daily. In this Kaya Kalpa food of all descriptions
should be given up. Mix a small quantity of Trikatu powder (Soont, Kali Mirch,
Pippal) with milk before taking. This helps digestion and increases strength.
On the second day add 4 rattis of leaves, flowers and bark of neem. Thus the
quantity has to be increased 4 rattis daily. The following table will give you an
idea of the quantity of medicine to be taken.
1st day Morning and evening 1 Masha
2nd day Morning and evening 1 ½ Mashas
7th. day Morning and evening 4 Mashas
15th day Morning and evening 8 Mashas
20th day Morning and evening 10 ½ Mashas
31st day Morning and evening 16 Mashas
On the 32nd day the quantity of the pill should be reduced by one Masha and
thus every day one Masha is to be reduced. On the 45th day the size of the pill
comes to one Masha. Thus the course of treatment comes to an end and the
patient feels great strength, vigour and vitality.
The patient will do well to keep some green leaves of neem under the pillow.
This removes the heat in the system. This rejuvenates the entire nervous system.
Put 15 leaves of neem in one glass of water and keep it covered near your bed at
bed-time. On waking from bed at 5 a.m. filter it and drink the water. This is
known as Ushapana also. This cleanses the bowels and bladder. It removes the
defects of phlegm and bile. After Ushapana one should go for stroll in the early
morning. The lungs are cleared. The heat in the system is reduced. On return
from walk take rest for half an hour and practise mild Pranayama or deep
breathing exercises.
During the course of treatment on account of little heat in the system you may
feel weak, you may suffer from a little sleeplessness, a little whirling of the
head, etc. But these will not last long and they will pass away. Be not moved by
such experiences. You should maintain mental equilibrium and not al-low
yourself to be led away by emotions.
The effect of neem is cooling, and lightness of body. It is highly effective in
curing skin-diseases. It removes phlegm, wind and bile.
It is helpful in cough, all fevers, loss of appetite, thirst, diabetes, leprosy, etc.
The oil of neem is very useful in all skin dis-eases, worms in teeth, infectious
diseases.
Even the Western scientists have accepted the fact that of all medicines which
help to cleanse the system neem finds the first place.
Soon after the treatment the patient should take care to see that he takes no such
thing which gives rise to the disease once again. This is very, very important.
Once the Kalpa is successfully undertaken the patient gets immunity from the
dis-ease for pretty long time.
BUTTER-MILK TREATMENT FOR
A HUNDRED-YEAR LIFE
(Takra Kalpa)
Takra Kalpa treatment is not merely a cure for diseases. It also bestows long life
on the individual. Butter-milk contains in itself all the strength-giving elements
which could otherwise be had only from a number of other edible articles of
daily life. It gives more strength and energy than ordinary articles of diet. It
contains very important vitamins useful for the building up of body cells.
In the chapter on dietetics in Ayurveda we find a full description of butter-milk
as an important part of our food.
The person who takes butter-milk never falls sick. It destroys all kinds of
diseases. It does not allow diseases to enter the system. Just as nectar is
prescribed for Gods in heaven even so here in this world butter-milk is
prescribed for men as a means for maintaining healthy life. He is ever happy.
In Kalpa Kosha we find a beautiful description of Takra Kalpa for a happy and
diseaseless life.
This Kalpa is useful in dreadful diseases contacted by heredity. In short it is
useful in all diseases. It should be administered with a thorough knowledge of
the Pathyas (do's) and Apathyas (don'ts).
We find Chandrasamputi, Amritakaran and many other varieties of Butter-milk
treatment. But the following method is very useful. It is easy to practise and is
highly fruitful.
This Kalpa is undertaken for 40 days. There are various methods of preparing
curd and butter-milk. The most easy and useful method is described here.
For the purpose of making curd, cow's milk is the best.
Cow's milk is itself a Rasayana (tonic). Prepare curd out of pure cow's milk.
Add one part of water in 3 parts of curd. Take butter from one half of curd. Add
the other half and make the butter-milk. Prepare curd in the early morning and
keep it for one full day. On the second day the curd is fit for use. Do not use old
curd. The curd that is kept unused for 48 hours be-comes unfit for use in Kalpa.
It is even harmful. Do not preserve curd or butter-milk in brass or copper
vessels. It is highly injurious to health.
Before commencing Takra Kalpa clear your bowels with Pancha Karma
(Vamana, Virechana, Nasya, Niruham and Anuvasan). By this not only the
bowels but even the senses are purified.
Keep up the vow of Brahmacharya. Continue the Kalpa for 40 days. Take bath
in the early morning. At sunrise take 10 Chhataks (50 tolas) of butter-milk.
Take an equal quantity at sunset also. The next day increase it by 2 Chhataks i.e.
11 Chhataks at sunrise and 11 Chhataks at sunset. Thus increase 2 Chhataks
daily.
If you find it difficult to take simple butter-milk as it is, you can add a small
quantity of fried Jira, asafoetida mixed with a little Saindhva Namak, well
powdered.
On 41st day onward reduce 4 Chhataks every day until you come again to 1 seer
and 4 Chhataks.
On the completion of Kalpa you should not commence your usual diet at once.
Do not take salt and chillies for some days. In the beginning take only fruit-
juice, Palak, Louki, Parval and green vegetables. Then take milk and then
gradually the usual diet. This Kalpa is not advisalbe in Varsha and Sarad Ritus
(Rain and winter).
If the butter-milk is light it is useful in stopping motions. If it is sour in taste, it
does not increase bile. It helps digestion. It improves digestion, strength, and
removes the evil effects of Vaata, Pitta, Kapha, etc.
In cold season it improves digestion and removes bad taste. It improves the
movement of Nadis and makes it normal.
BRAHMI TREATMENT FOR HUNDRED
YEARS' LIFE
Brahmi is one of the beautiful creeper herbs found in the Himalayan regions.
This is available in plenty in winter.
During Vasanta-Greeshma Ritus (February to April) it flowers. In rainy season
it is almost extinct. In the dictionary of herbs, Brahmi is known as Somavati or
Sarasvati. This is found in places which are moist, on the wet sandy mountain
regions.
This should be collected in Sisira Ritu and Vasanta Ritu (seasons) when it is full
with beneficial juice. The leaves should be collected from clean places in fresh
airy regions. Impure and unholy places should be avoided in collecting Brahmi
leaves.
Wonderful are the characteristic qualities of Brahmi. It develops bodily as well
as mental faculties. It increases life and checks degeneration.
It develops intelligence and improves memory. It is effective in leprosy,
leucoderma. It is very cooling in effect. It is good in cleansing the bowels. Its
taste is bitter. It improves intellecual faculties. It increases life.
It makes the voice fine. It purifies urine. It is useful in blood impurities.
Apasmar (Mirigi), loss of memory, in wet dreams, menstrual disorders, nervous
debility, children's diseases, pneumonia, etc. In children's diseases— pneumonia
and cough—it should be pasted and applied to the neck.
Even the Westerners have done great researches over Brahmi. It is known there
as Gratiola Monniera Hydrocotyle Asiatica. They are of the opinion that this
should not be dried in the sun. If it is dried in the sun it loses some of its vital
qualities.
In Brahmi Kalpa fresh Brahmi is to be used. Fresh Brahmi abounds in
wonderful life-giving strength and various beneficial qualities. It transforms a
man immediately. Brahmi Kalpa is undertaken for 31 days. The person
undergoing the Kalpa should first of all clear his bowels. The next day after
bath and other cleansings he should take 6 Mashas (y2 tole of Brahmi leaves,
roots, branches) and grind it very nicely. This is very effective. The paste should
be as fine as possible.
Take half at sunrise. The remaining half (3 Mashas) should be taken at sunset.
Three hours later you should take cow's milk half a seer or as much as you can
digest. You can in-crease the quantity according to your capacity. While heating
the milk put 6 Mashas of fresh Brahmi leaves and boil it well. Cool it and take
it. In case pure cow's milk is not available, goat's milk can be taken. After 3 or 4
days if there is difficulty in digesting the milk you can add a small quantity of
dried ginger and pippal (both powdered well).
During the Kalpa period take nothing prepared out of grains. Nothing other than
milk should be taken. Have the senses under perfect control. Devote more time
to prayer and meditation. If you want to take rest lie on your left side. The rule
is:
Care should be taken to see that the milk is freshly drawn every morning. The
quantity of Brahmi should be increased in the following order, the entire course
of treatment is for 45 days.
1st day 3 Mashas both morning and evening.
2nd day M mashas both morning and evening.
3rd day 5 Mashas both morning and evening.
7th day 9 Mashas both morning and evening.
15th day 17 Mashas both morning and evening.
21st day 23 Mashas both morning and evening.
31st day 33 Mashas both morning and evening.
From the 32nd day onward reduce 2 Mashas each time and on the 45th day the
quantity of Brahmi leaves taken will be 3 Mashas morning and evening as on
the first day of the Kalpa.
On the completion of Kalpa, food should be gradually in-creased. First fruit-
juice should be taken. Then green gram and then old rice and easily digestible
article of diet should be taken before taking to the full normal diet. During the
period following the treatment you should avoid onion, oils, chillies, tamarind
(sour articles), etc.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR HUNDRED
YEARS' LIFE
In the Ayurvedic system Rasayana treatment is pre-scribed for keeping death at
a distance and attaining longevity. This system has become a neglected science
at the present moment. According to this treatment, old age is a disease. This
needs to be treated. Accidental deaths can be avoided.
Life can be continued indefinitely through Rasayana treat-ment. Rasayana is the
science of removing old age and dis-eases which do not yield to ordinary
treatment, prolonging life and rejuvenating it.
Whatever promotes longevity, retentive memory, health, vitality, is called
Rasayana. It.is called Rasayana because it has a beneficial effect on the "Rasas"
and other elements of the body. It strengthens the metabolic system, improves
the blood and consequently the whole body.
Mandavya Muni who resided in Vindhya Mountains attained long life and
Siddhis by herbs. So did Chyavana Rishi through the reputed Chyavanaprash.
Those which help people to attain longevity are called Rasayanas.
Rasayana treatment is done through sulphur, mercury, Nux Vomica seeds,
Neem, Hareetaki and Amlaka.
The Rasayanas can immortalise the physical body. The Rasayanas keep the
physical body healthy and strong for a long time in order to achieve the goal or
Self-realisation in this very life. If the body is kept healthy and strong for a long
time, the Yogic students have much time to attain the goal. Much time will not
be lost in dying and being born again. This is the theory of Rasayanas.
Three distinct processes are described in Ayurveda to attain longevity and
rejuvenation. They are 'Rasaraj Rasayana' termed Mercury which has first and
foremost place among the ancient therapeutics. 'Rasayana' herbs and 'Achar
Rasayana'.
Ekosau rasarajah sariram-ajaram amaram kurute': The only thing that can make
the body ever young and immortal is the blessed Rasaraj.
Longevity is also attained through 'Rasayana' herbs such as Soma, Nila, Nari,
Padma, Hareetaki and Amla. Amla and Hareetaki tone the body, give immense
strength and virility and make it immune from many diseases. The patient is
kept indoor (Kuti-preveshika) or outdoor (Vata-atapita).
'Achar Rasayana' or rejuvenation and longevity through the practice of Yama,
Niyama or right conduct (Ahimsa, Satyam, Brahmacharya, etc.,) is another kind
of treatment by the Yogins and Sages.
According to Sushruta the Rasayana treatment should be performed on the
subject either in youth or in the middle age. It will not bestow the desired
results, if it is performed when old age or decrepitude has already set in.

NATUROPATHIC SECRETS OF HUNDRED

YEARS' LIVING
Disease is not a condition that ought to frighten us; it is not brought about by
agencies outside ourselves. Disease is the result of the kickings of life. Health
alone exists. From birth till death it is only health, it is only life that makes a
man live.
Even disease is only a sign of health—it is the reaction of life to the entry of
foreign matter into the system. Life's cleansing process is called disease. It takes
various forms. But essentially all diseases are the same; there are not many
diseases there is only one disease—and that is dis-ease or no-ease, i.e., the
struggle of life to get rid of foreign matter.
To get rid of dis-ease, therefore, one ought to help the Vital Power in oneself to
get rid of the foreign matter. Disease (or rather the symptoms that manifest on
account of this effort on the part of Life to get rid of the foreign matter in the
body) ought not to be suppressed with toxic drugs which the Allopathic doctors
give. Leave Nature to get rid of the foreign matter in her own way. Do all that
lies in your power to aid the vital power to carry on this work unhindered. First
and fore-most comes fasting.
Digestion of food is one of the greatest charges on vital economy. If you put
food into the stomach during disease, then the vital power which is engaged in
the work of cleansing the system of the foreign matter is diverted from its
function and made to digest the food! This results in worsening the condition.
Leave the vital power to attend to the cleaning process. Do not eat during
disease. Then the vital power will rapidly get rid of the foreign matter within.
Nature gives priority to assimilation more than to elimination. Elimination can
wait (of course, at the cost of health); but assimilation cannot wait even for a
moment. As soon as the food reaches the stomach the process must get into full
swing. The vital Power will have to drop its cleansing auto-intoxication and
worsen the disease. The scientists' argument in favour of a patient being allowed
to eat even during illness is that food is necessary to maintain life. Just the
reverse is the truth! Food does not maintain life; it is Life that eats food,
produces the energy necessary for digestion and elimination. Life lives by itself.
Food is necessary for life to build and to repair the body; food is not necessary
to maintain life! This has to be clearly grasped by all. Then you will clearly
understand why, during illness, you have to fast; for, by fasting you conserve
the Vital Power, you prevent its expenditure on the digestion and assimilation of
food and thus release it entirely to attend to the work of elimination of foreign
matter.
Then comes dieting. Food must be Sattvic and should be taken only in order to
sustain the body; for the maintenance of this body only a very small quantity of
food is required. That is our need. Nature, our kind mother, has, however,
provided for a little more in us to digest more food than Life needs to sustain the
body. A man's digestive capacity is a little more than what is needed to digest
the food that Life needs. One can safely take up to this digestive limit without
falling sick. To go beyond this digestive limit is to court disease; for, then, you
put into the sys-tem more food than it can digest. The surplus food is then a
burden which Life has to get rid of. The surplus food ferments in the stomach; it
produces various toxic gases—and Life has to eliminate all these through its
processes called disease.
He is a Yogi who eats just what is sufficient to fulfil Life's need. He will enjoy a
Sattvic frame of mind; he will have peace; he will enjoy radiant health and long
life.
He is a Bhogi who eats up to his digestive capacity. He, too, does not overstep
the limit and, therefore, he enjoys good health and long life. He is Rajasic in
temperament. He is prone to indulge in sense-pleasures. When the digestive
limit is exceeded, then man becomes a Rogi, a sick man, Tamasic in
temperament, virtually a living corpse.
Sattvic food nourishes the body and helps life. Fruits, vegetables, whole cereals,
nuts and green leafy vegetables and milk—these are all Sattvic food-stuffs.
They have an intrinsic food-value. They are the food. They do not need the
aeroplane carriers, viz., the condiments, chillies, salt and tamarind. It is because
man kills the vital essence in the food that he eats, he has to use the appetisers
which act as aeroplanes to carry the food inside the stomach. These stimulants,
and tea, coffee and other soft and alcoholic drinks irritate the nerves and entire
sys-tem and drinks are harbingers of diseases, of evil thoughts of immortality.
Appetisers are used by people in order to thrust inside food which is not
demanded by the Life-Fire within. The Life-Fire is God Himself, the
Vaisvanara Fire. Man should wait for the appearance of this God within and
then offer Him food. Nowadays people do not wait for hunger. They mistake
the cravings of the palate for hunger. They mistake appetite for hunger. They
have never experienced the joy of hunger. Hunger, as it is the form of the Lord,
is indescribable in its nature, even as God. One has to experience it to know
what it is; it can-not be told. But some sort of a hint can be given about hunger
in order to help you to understand it when it really comes.
First, there should be evacuation of the previous meal's waste-products; in other
words, all the processes— digestion, assimilation and elimination—connected
with the previous meal ought to have been completed. After this evacuation of
the bowels you will feel a peculiar lightness of the body. You will feel happy
and light. You will want to work. You will have clarity of mind and intellect. If
this is not felt, then it means that there is still waste-matter within. After this
feeling of lightness has be-gun to be felt, you should work. You must serve if
you are to de-serve your meal. The stomach will then begin to shrink. All the
vital power will then be available for work. You will feel joyful to work. Then
slowly hunger will manifest itself. You will experience the moving up of wind
from the stomach. This will be clean wind, odourless. This is a sign that hunger
has come. After some time, you can take your food. Hunger, when it comes,
will not make you crave for food; it is not like the ravenous appetite which will
make you grab at food and swallow it. Hunger, on the other hand, will be a
pleasant demand of the Life within for food to repair and to build the body.
When you have only appetite you will not relish your food. You will want food
that satisfies the palate only! You cannot enjoy the sweetness of natural food;
you will find it insipid and tasteless. But, when you have real hunger, then you
will find the natural food very sweet; you will enjoy the natural sweetness of
food.
Eat slowly. Masticate well. Starches have to be digested in the mouth itself. Do
not take food that will tempt you to swallow. Especially, the habit of eating
Halwa, Puri, Parotta, etc., is very injurious. Halwa makes you swallow food that
you ought to masticate well. Condiments and chillies make you over eat. These
are, therefore, very harmful and should be avoided.
The habit of taking tea and coffee should also be given up. Tea, coffee and such
other drinks are not food; they are only stimulants. They whip up your own vital
power and enable you to drain it. You feel an unnatural energy and you are
tempted to use it. They do not add to the store of your energy. They deplete it.
Therefore, you gradually lose your vital power.
You should know when to stop eating. Nature has its own signs. You will get
wind from the stomach. The wind this time will have the odour of the most
prominent item in your diet. This wind is the sign: "it is enough for me". You
must get up at once. To eat after this is to overload the stomach and court
trouble.
Therefore, the first rule as regards eating is—wait for hunger.
Secondly, you should take care not to destroy the vital essence that is present in
the food that you eat. You need not at all care what vitamins you are taking and
which are absent in the food you eat. But you should at the same time realise
that salts and vitamins are the most essential parts of the food. These two are the
cleansing agents. They help in the elimination of the end-products. It is not the
assimilation that is of greater importance; but it is elimination that should be
taken greater care of. If the elimination is satisfactory, then there will be no
foreign matter in the system, there will be no congestion, there will be no auto-
intoxication, and the vital power can concentrate all its forces for the
elimination of waste-products. Vitamins and natural salts help this elimination.
Every article of food that you take contains the Vitamin necessary for its
digestion and elimination of its waste-products. Do not bother about which
vitamins are present in which food as if you are taking all the vitamins that
science has named for us. Take care that you take the foodstuff with its natural
vitamins. This you can ensure if you take fresh foodstuffs. Fruits, vegetables
and green leaves are best from this point of view. They are rich in vitamins.
Especially the vegetables and fruits that have absorbed greater sun-light are
more abundant in vitamin-content.
Then, you have to be very careful in the cooking of vegetables. Eating them raw
is the wisest. If you have to cook them, then merely steam-boil them. Even if
you use water to boil them, take care not to use too much water, using too much
water naturally means straining the water and throwing it away along with the
most essential parts of the vegetables. The vegetables should never be fried, nor
should too much spice be added to them.
In the case of rice, wheat and other cereals, the evil habit of polishing them
should be given up. Each household should have its own Chakki (a small
pounder for rice and wheat). This will not remove the most essential part of the
grains as the ma-chine does; it will only remove the chaff.
You may eat only when you are hungry, and you may take fresh things, and
with their vital essence in them. That is not all. You must ensure that the
vegetables that you take are rich in nutrition and vitamins. You have to pay
attention to the soil on which the foodstuffs grow. That soil should not have
been artificially manured. Chemical manures might produce good-looking
foodstuffs in abundance; but they cannot produce foodstuffs which are abundant
in nutrition and vitamins.
The best way to ensure this is to live near the land on which you grow your
food. Nature has so arranged that man takes what the plant yields and gives
back in the form of excreta, urine, and the exhaled air the plant's food. Thus,
there is a continuous cycle. If this cycle is maintained, there is no depletion of
the health, of either the man or the soil. Nowadays, people crowd in big cities.
They obtain their food from the villages, but do not give back the soil from
which their food comes. The best manure for the soil is the excreta of people
who live on natural food and in the natural way. That soil will yield man's food,
rich in vitamins and nourishing elements.
If these three conditions are fulfilled, then you enjoy perfect health and you will
never suffer from disease.
Another very important point to remember always is: keep your mind healthy;
fill it with healthy ideas; think sublime thought; remember God always. It is
Life that lives in the body; it is Life that maintains the body with the help of
food; it is Life that eats food; it is Life that produces diseases also when it has to
kick out foreign matter from the system. Thus Life or the Vital Power derives
its Sakti from God. Therefore, you can keep it in a vigorous condition if you
think of God, link Prana with God and link mind with God. Mind is the link
between God and Prana. Sometimes evil tendencies in the mind will manifest
themselves out. Even when you are living externally according to nature, if your
mind is impure, you may suddenly become the victim of some disease.
Therefore, keep the mind pure.
Do not be afraid of disease. Disease is a blessing in dis-guise. Disease is a sign
of life within. It indicates that there is enough Vital Power within to revolt
against the accumulation of foreign matter. Some people are afraid of
approaching their kith and kin suffering from infectious diseases T.B., Cholera,
Typhoid, Small-pox, etc. This is wrong. They have the wrong notion that they
will catch the disease if they go near the patient. Thus, they lose a golden
opportunity of serving the suffering patient. It is a great loss.
Diseases are not caught like that. When you’re vital power is at a low ebb, your
power of resistance is very low, when your own system is full of foreign matter,
then and then alone will you be subjected to disease, whether or not you serve a
sick man. If you are healthy, if you are clean within and if you keep your
surroundings also clean and healthy, then you need not be afraid of catching any
infection.
The fear of infection is due to the wrong notion that dis-eases are caused by
germs passing from the sick man to the healthy man. It is not so. Diseases are
not caused by imported germs. In many cases there is no germ at all in the
system at the time of the attack, but the germs are produced by the dis-ease.
This shows that the germs are nature's agents to cleanse the system of the
foreign matter. Germs are friends. If they are not produced in your own system,
and if they are from the suffering man, they will do no harm to you unless there
is filth within your own body. If you have healthy cells in your system by
natural living, then the invading germs too, will be converted into healthy cells,
or thrown out. Therefore, banish fear of infection, but build up your own vital
power, your own power of resistance by promoting health and guarding against
the accumulation of waste matter.
When you wish to attend on a person suffering from infectious disease of a
virulent type, e.g., smallpox, leprosy, T.B., etc., attend on him when you are
empty in stomach. Do not take any food (or wait for a few hours after taking
food), clear the bowels also. Then serve the patient. The Vital Power having
been relieved of the need to digest, assimilate and eliminate your food, will then
be active and will prevent any foul matter emanating from the patient from
getting entry into your system. After the service, have a good wash; wash your
clothes also and then take rest after taking your food, if you had not already
done so before attending on the patient. Then do not go near the patient till the
next day. Thus, there can be two sets of nurses, one attending on the patient in
the morning hours, i.e., before taking food, and the other in afternoon hours,
after the food had been fully digested. The patient can be very well looked after
without any danger to those who attend on him.
Further, diseases like smallpox are a true blessing. Small-pox, specially, means
a thorough spring-cleaning of the entire system. Even if, during the smallpox
attack there are other forms of foreign matter in the system, smallpox cleanses
them all. It is said that even diseases like syphilis are got rid of after a smallpox
attack. When the Vital Power rises in antagonism against a powerful foreign
matter like the smallpox, and when it wins its victory, in this process itself
several minor diseases are got rid of. Therefore, after a person survives an
attack of small-pox he leads a very healthy life. Therefore, banish this
germphobia and this fear-complex. Live the life natural and you will be a proof
against disease and attain highest longevity.
In health as well as in disease you should use common sense in dealing with this
body which is made up of the five elements—the five elements that are
available in abundance out-side—water, air, earth, etc. Water has very good use.
Nature Cure therefore lays great emphasis on baths and packs. A wet pack is
really a boon. When applied around the abdomen it will vitalise the abdominal
organs. It will promote digestion and elimination. It will tone up the abdominal
muscles, and the walls of the stomach are made to function properly. Then
disease will be allayed to a great extent. There have been cases where
palpitation of the heart has been cured by the mere application of wet pack
around the abdomen.
The principle is this. When there is extra heat in the sys-tem, the destructive
metabolism (when nature wants to throw foreign matter) the wet pack helps to
draw the extra heat away from the system. Thus the expulsion of the foreign
matter from the system is greatly helpful. The gases, liquids and other forms of
foreign matter get disposed of very easily, smoothly and rapidly; and the normal
functioning of the inner mechanism is restored.
If there is internal heat and this heat is not felt on the sur-face of the body, then
a stimulating wet pack is indicated. This will produce a heat-reaction. In both
cases, the body-heat is evenly distributed, circulation promoted throughout the
body, thus helping elimination through the blood stream of the foreign matter in
the system.
Wet Pack: Take a long piece of cloth. Dip it in water. Squeeze the water out of
the cloth. Then fold it lengthwise into four. Tie it around the abdomen tightly.
Fasten the cloth with safety pins.
Stimulating Wet Pack: The process is similar to the Wet Pack; but here the
squeezing out of water will be thorough. The cloth will have very little water in
it. This stimulates heat and dis-tributes it evenly. To achieve marked results,
you can tie a woollen cloth around the wet pack.
The wet pack can be used even in the case of pneumonia; in cases like this the
wet pack will be broadened so as to include the chest also. Like this the wet
pack can be applied to all parts of the body. Severe headache can be cured
instantly by the wet pack.
Bath: Another potent device is the bath. The hip bath is a real boon. Sit in a tub
of water so that only your hip and the abdomen are inside the water; both the
trunk and the head above, and the legs ought to be outside the water level, dry.
You can, with a small handkerchief massage your abdomen also with a light
pressure.
Then there is the spine bath. Lie down in a long tub of water. The water should
be only 1X" or 2" in depth. It should just wet the back, the water level should be
midway between the chest and the back. This is a great tonic to the nervous
system. All the nerves have their roots in the spinal column. By toning up the
spinal column you are actually rejuvenating your nervous system. When your
nervous system is toned up, all your glands will begin to function properly and
bestow on you perfect health.
The duration of these baths and the temperature at which the water should be
applied depends on the age and the power of resistance of the patient and the
nature of the symptoms. Once the general rule is grasped the particular case will
suggest itself.
In the case of people who are not able to stand the cold bath, whose reactive
power is too low, and when even a cold bath might mean whipping up of the
vital power into sudden activity, it is advisable to resort to the warm bath.
Enema: Another important cleansing method in Nature Cure system is the
enema. Enema ought to be judiciously used so that it will induce the normal
bowel-movement to be re-stored. This can be done by observing the following
three rules:
1) Do not use much water; use as little quantity of water as possible.
2) Do not keep the can at a height more than three feet from the level of anus.
3) Do not add any irritant like soap, glycerine, etc., to the water used. Plain
water will do. If need be, you add some organic vegetable juices, butter-milk or
milk.
The water may be cold or lukewarm depending, as in the case of the bath, on the
stage of the disease, the vital power of the patient, etc.
The natural way of living, therefore, ensures a very long life, a perfect Sattvic
frame of mind which is highly conducive to Sadhana, to control the senses,
observance of Brahmacharya, and through these to the attainment of the
summum bonum of human life.
THE ATTAINMENT OF LONGEVITY
He who drinks and has no thirst
Or eats and has no hunger
He who does not take any exercise
Suffers illness and dies young.

He who wastes much the vital fluid

He who uses tobacco
He who takes heavy dinners
Suffers illness and dies young.

He who drinks butter-milk

He who eats tomatoes and lemons
He who walks three miles daily
Is healthy and attains longevity.
He who is moderate in everything
He who basks in the sun
He who takes cold bath
Is healthy and attains longevity.

He who is ever busy

He who talks little
He who drinks water in the early morning
Is healthy and attains long life.

He who fasts and meditates

He who eats to live
He who takes to Nature-cure,
Is healthy and attains immortality.

He who takes spinach or palak

He who gets up when he is still hungry
He who observes silence during eating
Is healthy and attains a very long life.

INCREASE THE DURATION OF LIFE

Observe the laws of health,

Attend to the rules of hygiene,
Prevention is better than cure.
Nip the malady in its bud.
Masticate the food thoroughly,
Have a balanced diet,
Take moderate food
Avoid late supper at night.

Run in the open air,

Do Danda and Kasrat.

Avoid liquor and intoxicant

Have simple living and high thinking.

Diseases are the destroyers of health,

Health is the means for attaining longevity,
Keep the body healthy and strong,
Qualify yourself as your own doctor.

Sariram Adyam Khalu Dhanna Sadhanam,

Have a knowledge of the diseases and symptoms,
And ward off the troubles and diseases.

Lead a life of ease and happiness,

Nurse the sick for getting Chitta-Suddhi,
And attain Eternal Bliss and Immortality.

Fast once in a month,

Give up salt on Sundays,
Keep the bowels open,
Get help from nature.
Go to bed early,
Rise up early,
Pray fervently,
Meditate regularly.

LONGEVITY POSSIBLE FOR

BLOOD-PRESSURE PATIENTS
Are you one out of about every five adults who has high blood-pressure or
hardening of the arteries? If you are, there is no need to worry yourself into bed.
Many people with one or both of these conditions can count living useful lives,
if they take sensible precautions.
Medical research has brought about almost revolutionary changes in the
treatment and management of both these conditions. Patients who would have
been condemned twenty years ago to a useless life in bed are now advised to
live normally. The wise physician today would no more prescribe an invalid's
routine for the average patient than he would recommend getting a job as a
long-shore-man. More than any other disease, hypertension (high blood-
pressure) varies with the patient and the treatment should fit the person.
Actually, high blood pressure is not a disease at all, but a sign that some-thing is
wrong, like headache or fever that accompanies a cold.
The majority of people with high blood-pressure can do more for themselves
than can be accomplished by surgery or drugs, although consultation with the
family physician is always important. "What is your blood-pressure" should be
a solemn warning, rather than a taunt, for irritability can be the boundary-line
between good and bad health. A good tip is to keep clear of friction and worry if
you can.
Dr. Page has listed a few general rules, although they can-not be applied to
everyone. Walk—never run upstairs. Quit anything before you get overtired—
Relax or nap twice a day (say, a half-hour before lunch and an hour before
dinner). If possible quit work a little early and exercise outdoors for an hour
(but avoid competitive sports; don't be in a golf game longer than you should).
Go to bed well before midnight. Keep your weight normal. Argue and worry as
little as possible.
There are many who think the higher the pressure, the greater the risk of
damage. Science disagrees. The only important question is whether pressure
that is above normal de-pends on the person. Anyone who tries to forecast his
future by comparing blood-pressure readings at different times is wasting
emotional energy and probably boosting his pressure.
The danger in hypertension, according to Dr. Page, is that persistent high blood-
pressure sets up a chain of events which cause hardening or scarring of the
artery walls, and eventually to the closing of some of the blood-vessels. This
condition, known to medical men as arteriosclerosis, is the main cause of death
among hypertension patients, for it can lead to serious heart-attack, a fatal
stroke or impairment of the kidneys. Cut-ting off the blood-supply to vital
tissues is as serious as depriving a plant of water. But not all sufferers from high
blood-pressure develop arteriosclerosis, and among those who do, there is a
variation in degree, rate of progress and intensity. Some patients are not affected
for decades.
A Businessman was tuned down for life insurance be-cause of his high blood-
pressure. Eleven years later he was found in excellent health. His blood-
pressure was reduced, al-though he was still uninsurable, and his life
expectancy was better than that of many insurance executives. Over half a
century ago the blood-pressure of a young boy was discovered to be elevated at
the age of 17. Despite this he went into business and stayed in it until he was 65,
when he was compelled to re-tire by company rules. At seventy he died of a
stroke. During the last 53 years of his life he had no headaches or other
symptoms until a month before his death, although his blood-pressure in the
eight years before he died was very high.
There is a great difference in the degree of hypertension in individuals and its
rate of progress. A 34-year old mother of two children had been in good health
until she was bothered with occasional headaches when she woke up. Her
doctor found her blood pressure was up, gave her medicines to relieve the
headaches and advised her to lose weight. She renounced pastries and other
items and to her husband's amazement kept the pledge.
Fifteen years later when she was re-examined, following an attach of influenza,
her heart was slightly enlarged and her blood-pressure still above normal.
Otherwise she was in good health. It was not until she was 56 that her blood-
pressure caused trouble. She awakened one morning unable to talk. The right
side of her face drooped and she could not move her right arm or leg. After
treatment she recovered from the stroke and was living normally when last seen
by her doctor.
The situation was different with a 45-years old lawyer who thought he was in
fine shape but received a jolt when his application for additional life insurance
was turned down because of high blood-pressure. His own doctor found the
disease serious and recommended a sympathectomy operation. The patient
refused, saying it was impossible to spend seven weeks in hospital at that time,
although he did agree to change his diet. Six months later he was experiencing
severe disabling headaches, shortness of breath after climbing stairs, swollen
ankles and tightness in his chest after excitement. This time he allowed his
doctor to send him to hospital, but despite medication and a diet low in salt, he
died within a month.
An honest physician could not say that this patient might have lived as long as
the first. But in hypertension, as in other diseases, there is a presumption that a
human being—like an automobile—will enjoy more mileage if regularly
inspected and intelligently cared for.
The indisputable fact is that most patients with elevated blood-pressure live for
many years without difficulty, under proper care.
A SURE REMEDY FOR BECOMING
A CENTENARIAN
Life is very complex nowadays. People have become luxurious. They have no
control over their senses. Their habits are very irregular.
The problem of food itself has become very difficult and tiresome. They cannot
find time enough to devote themselves for Self-culture and thoughts of God or
Atman.
But a sincere Sadhaka can find his own time and place for Sadhana. Here is a
short and sure recipe for becoming a centenarian. Kindly follow it with zeal and
enthusiasm. You need not repent. Both Bhukti and Mukti will be yours if you
simply adhere to it tenaciously.
The regular and systematic practice of Sirshasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana and
Paschimottanasana, Surya Namaskar and of Pranayama will without doubt
bestow health and longevity on you. Meditation will put you in touch with the
eternal fountain of health and long life.
Repetition of the Lord's Name (Japa) is a potent tonic which will enable you to
live for a hundred years or more. There is no tonic that is more powerful than an
intense zeal to selflessly serve humanity till the last breath. This will quickly
earn for you the Lord's Grace which means health and long life.
Give up wrong thinking. Conserve and preserve physical and mental energy.
Speak measured words. Repeat daily Mahamrityunjaya Mantra as much as you
can. You will have no accidents in life. In the cities you come across many
accidents. You will have no unnatural death.
Even if you have erred in the past, correct yourself for the future. Control anger,
lust, greed and hatred. The Upanishads declare that it is the duty of man to
strive to live for hundred years or even more in order to serve humanity and
attain the goal of life, God-realisation in this very life.
May God bless you all with a long life for the service of humanity. May you all
attain Self-realisation in this birth?
A HEALTHY LIFE OF HUNDRED YEARS
"Om Jivema Sharadah Shatam" (Yajurveda)

ॐ जिस्वीविवेम शरदय शतम" (यजिपविरद)

This voice of the Veda echoes the man's aspiration of living a hundred years for
experiencing the fullest development of his senses and organs of action, and
leading an ideal life of radiant health, spiritual aspiration and exalted state of
conscious-ness. This Vedic Hymn is in the form of prayer giving expression to
the inmost desire of man.
Even in this Iron Age there are several great souls, who are in search of eternal
life in spirit, and who have attained hundred years as enjoined by the Vedas
through the observance of great vows such as Non-violence, Truth, and
Brahmacharya. They are also engaged in the service of humanity. There are
great souls perfected in the practice of Yama and Niyama, whose age is difficult
to ascertain.
In this present age those who are entangled in the worldly life, their average
maximum age is 65 years only. The reason is that India is a hot country and at
the same time it lacks in nutritional food. It is rarely that one can find a man of
hundred years of age in the householder's life. Even such a man is found to be
debilitated in body and mind. The main reason is this that they have not
observed the laws of Samyama and Niyama (abstinence and observance) as
enjoined in the scriptures.
Those wise souls who conduct themselves according to the laws of Ayurveda
Scripture of Lord Dhanvantari, who keep themselves healthy through the
practice of Yama and Niyama and who have concentrated their intellectual and
mental energy through sublime thinking, they, the ideal among men, enjoy a
healthy Vedic life of hundred years. The Ayurveda of Bhagavan Dhanvantari
inspires man to attain a glorious healthy life of hundred years:
"A wise man should always take care of his health for the sustenance of Dharma
(merit), Artha (wealth), Kama (enjoy-ment) and Moksha (liberation) because
the diseases rob what is best in life by destroying the body." (Charaka Sutra 16).
A Daily Routine for Long Life
For healthy body and long life every person should get up at four o'clock in the
morning and practise prayer and meditation . . . this develops mental and
spiritual purity and the senses too become free from diseases through Sattva.
One should get up at 4 a.m. daily in Brahmamuhurta, then practise meditation
for an hour, keeping the mind free from all worries, and then he should start
other obligatory actions for purifying his body.
Usha Pan (Drinking water in the morning)
After meditation drink pure water as described below. Keep half a seer of pure
water in a copper vessel or any polished vessel well covered, near your bed at
night. Drink that water early in the morning after your meditation. This removes
constipation and several other diseases; this also increases eye-sight and
memory-power.
Walking in Pure Air
After Usha Pan, go for a walk in the cool fragrant air of the morning for one or
two miles on a path that goes through green, luxuriant trees. Repairing to a good
spot you should sit in Padmasana (lotus pose) and practise Pranayama for 15
minutes. Breathing exercises in pure air fill the lungs with cool fresh air which
purifies blood and strengthens the heart. Coming back from walk answer the
call of nature and take rest for twenty minutes, during this time you can clean
your teeth by sticks of Neem or Babul tree, or use a good tooth-powder.
Asanas and Exercises
Among various Asanas Paschimottanasana, Halasana, Sirshasana,
Sarvangasana, Mayurasana, etc. are very effective for miraculous increase of
vitality and health.
Even most chronic diseases, declared hopeless by the doctors have been cured
successfully. There is no doubt that Asana and Pranayama are valuable
contributions to long life and health.
By the practice of exercise old age is warded off, there is increase in
intelligence, longevity, power and lustre. The dis-eases do not assail the
practitioner all on a sudden. One should practise physical exercises with a cool
and composed mind, and should stop his practice when the body starts
perspiring. After exercise give some rest to the body and then massage the body
with oil. It is healthy. This can be done in all seasons with great benefit, except
in summer. Then take bath with pure water, better in cool and fresh water of
running streams or rivers for such bath promotes health and destroys skin-dis-
eases. Baths in the holy rivers enjoined by the scriptures are conducive to
mental and spiritual strength also. In case when the body is ill, in a general
morbid condition of health, one can take bath with warm water. Never pour hot
water on your head. This weakens the nerves of the head, with the result one
suffers from impertinent cold and cough, and also the hair on the head turns
grey. While taking bath the body should be rubbed well. When the pores of the
body are thus cleansed of dirt, one enjoys radiant health.
After bath one should engage himself in prayers, chanting of the Stotras, study
of scriptures and other religious practices at least for twenty minutes daily. This
conduces to inner mental purity while bath gives physical purity. The practice
of purity within and without, is highly beneficial for health and ideal life. After
morning meditation one should take light diet e.g., milk, fruits, dry fruits,
butter-milk, etc. He can take tonics like Chyavanaprash, Amritprash,
Badampak, Muslipak, etc., pre-pared in accordance with Ayurvedic methods.
These should be taken with milk or honey. These Ayurvedic tonics can bestow a
hundred years of healthy life. Tradition goes that Maharshi Chyavana regained
his youth by the use of Chyavanaprash, his old age gave way to radiant youth.
The efficacy of this miraculous tonic was introduced to Chyavana Rishi by the
honoured physicians of gods, Ashwini Kumaras. Such tonics are highly
beneficial for attaining long life.
Daily Duty: According to the means of livelihood one should daily engage
himself in some work that is within his mental and physical capacity. It is by
exertion only that this body and all the senses connected with it are
strengthened, blood circulation is enhanced. One gets increased appetite and
power of assimilation. The body remains free from diseases. It is essential that
one should exert daily for maintaining health of the body and mind. Without
exertion the body soon decays through diseases.
Food: Every living being has to eat for maintaining life. Good food only
sustains life in this body. The consciousness in the individual owes its
manifestation to the power of the food only. Even through mind intellect and
reason it is the subtle force of food that functions. Men desirous of living
hundred years of life, must necessarily plan out his food. Maharshi Charaka
says:
It is healthy to take only those articles of food that do not affect health, do not
produce diseases, and are ever helpful for radiant health.
The Gita also declares: The foods which increase life, purity, strength, health,
joy and cheerfulness (good appetite), which are savoury and oleaginous,
substantial and agreeable are dear to the Sattvic. (Gita XVII-8).
All have agreed to the importance of balanced diet for maintaining good health.
Overeating and impure food have been considered very injurious to health by
Maharshi Charaka. Many get various diseases due to their ignorance of laws
relating to food or violation of those laws. Health is intimately related to food.
Overeating or much eating does not add to one's strength rather reduces it.
Overeating weakens appetite and power of assimilation due to which man
suffers from chronic diseases. Overeating is known as unbalanced eating which
causes several diseases; stomach ache, constipation, loss of appetite, liver
troubles, appendicitis, urinary troubles, heart troubles, etc. Those objects that
increase much fat in the body should be used less. With the increase of fat one
suffers from obesity, while walking one has irregular breathing, he gets more
heart palpitation, and frequent urination. Therefore, one should be abstemious in
these: cashew-nuts, almonds, walnuts, curd, cheese, butter, potato, urad, rice,
oil, dalda, ghee and its preparations. It is seen among the youth of today that
inspite of their rich diet, their health goes on deteriorating. The main cause is
that they waste much of their seminal energy through lack of self-control,
uncontrolled senses, their licentious nature, their indulgence to vulgar cinemas
and theatres, addiction to tobacco, beedi, cigarette, tea, meat-eating, opium,
Ganja, Bhang and other intoxicants and also company of licentious ladies. It is
important that the senses must be well protected from all such evils and one
should be devoted to the vow of truth, non-violence and purity. It is by the
observance of these three great vows alone that man can attain a healthy long
life of hundred years.
Method of Eating: Take food always in seclusion, keeping silent throughout,
with a mind well composed. To start with remember God and offer 5 spoons of
food in fire; again if you have any guest offer him food nicely and then take
your own. The food should be kept in a pure vessel. Masticate properly
whatever you eat. First take sweet things, then saline or saltish . . . Water can be
taken in the middle or at the end of the food. Water should not be taken
frequently, this produces indigestion and wind. Warm water with food is
beneficial. This removes wind. After food clean your mouth and also wash your
teeth well. Do not allow any particle of food sticking in between the teeth. That
becomes the abode of bacteria and produces tooth-ache or other tooth-diseases.
After cleaning the mouth well you should take four pieces of ginger with salt,
this digests the food quickly. Chewing betel leaf, well prepared with lime, etc.,
is also very good. After food one should lie down in bed on one's left side or he
should walk a hundred steps; this strengthens gastric fire. Keep one day fast in
every fifteen days; you can fast on Ekadasi, Amavasya and Purnima. This is
beneficial from the religious point of view also. Those who have to do more of
mental work should take nutritious food such as wheat, milk, butter, honey,
almond, cashew-nuts, tomato-juice, apple, grape, pomegranate, orange, spinach,
gourd, bitter gourd (karela), parwal, etc. Fresh vegetables and fruits should be
used abundantly. Goat's milk is very conducive to health. For men of manual
labour wheat, gram, rice, arhar, mung, urad, ghee, curd, potato, cabbage,
ground-nut (mungfali), linseed oil (Til oil) etc. are good body-builders.
Vegetarians have more power and mental development than the non-
vegetarians. Non-vegetarians suffer from various diseases such as heart-trouble,
mental diseases, blood-pressure, heart-palpitation, asthma, etc. By vegetarian
diet one remains healthy always and cultivate Sattva or purity (some people are
of this opinion).
Food According to Season
Food for Summer Season: For physical health and mental strength, one should
take food earlier in the morning as well as in the evening. In this season one
does not feel much appetite. The body is restless due to heat. Therefore one
should take light, easily digestible food according to one's digestive strength.
Such food as rice, Mung, Masur, Arhar, butter-milk, milk, lassi, honey, lemon,
tomato, fruits, green vegetables, sugarcane-juice, cucumber (kakari),
mosambee, pomegranate, Santra or orange, mint, green Dhania, Karela, Parwal,
gourd or louki, are very beneficial.
In summer season, duration of day is longest; sleeping in the day is also
beneficial for health.
Avoid in the Summer Season: Too much salt, sour or hot food, stale food,
exercise, walking in the night, meat and liquor, and sex-indulgence.
Brahmi Rasayana is healthy tonic for the season. Take one tola of it twice
morning and evening followed by one pao of milk (1/4 seer). During the day
you can take Brahmi Sherbet. This keeps the body cool and removes thirst.
Food for the Rainy season: Due to cloudy weather, gastric fire in the body is
weak. Wind being strong in the body de-sire for food is less. Therefore, one
should take light, easily assimilable diet, such as wheat, Dalia, thin wheat-bread,
Mung kichari, ghee, honey, acidic food, ginger, onion, green chillies, asafoetida,
cloves, karela, parval, ladies' finger, lemon (kagji nimbu), mango, apple, grape,
etc.
Avoid in the Rainy Season: Curd, stale food or food kept overnight, food that
causes wind, river-water, walking in the sun or in the day, sex-indulgence,
keeping awake in the night—these are specially harmful.
Tonic for the Rainy Season: Angurasava should be taken two teaspoonfuls
after food. It removes many diseases and nourishes the body. Milk should be
taken morning and evening mixed with a teaspoonful of Trikata Churna. This
removes foul wind and increases gastric fire.
Food in Winter Season: The food should be specially nutritious and healthy
because gastric fire is very strong in this season. Foods such as rice, wheat,
Arhar, Urad, barley, papad, cabbage, Gourd (lauki), Karela, tomato, fruit-juice,
coconut, apple, pear, milk preparations etc., are specially healthy.
Rubbing the body with Til oil and taking bath with warm water is specially
beneficial in winter season.
Avoid in the Winter Season: Stale curd, brinjal, wind-producing vegetables—
these are harmful to health.
Tonic in Winter Season: Chyavanaprash combined with Ashta Varga should
be taken one tola each time morning and evening followed by one pao (y4 seer)
of milk continuously for forty days. This is conducive to mental strength and
Brahmacharya.
Food for Night: Night-food should be light, easily assimilable more liquid in
nature. After food, drink a little milk. This di-gests the food quickly. Taking
milk after the night-meal removes constipation. One should take food two or
three hours before going to bed. Sleeping just after food mostly causes wet
dreams and also troubled sleep. One should a sleep after praying to the Lord or
remembering Him.
Kalpa for Longevity: The method of Kalpa is well-known from ancient times
for its efficacy in removing all diseases and bestowing long life and radiant
health. These are a few important Kalpas: Milk Kalpa, Takra Kalpa (butter-
milk), Neem Kalpa, Honey Kalpa, Mango Kalpa, Triphala Kalpa, etc. These can
be practised for long life. In Summer Season one can take to Takra Kalpa or
Neem Kalpa, in Rainy Season Triphala Kalpa or Mango Kalpa, in Winter
Season Milk Kalpa or Honey Kalpa. This planning is highly beneficial for
health. Some of the Kalpas have already been described previously. (For further
details see my book "Practice of Ayurveda".)
Those desirous of a life of hundred years must practise the above-mentioned
Kalpa Sadhana. For the effective practice of Kalpa Sadhana one should select a
beautiful spot in healthy climatic condition. Those who have practised Kalpa
with maximum observance of Yama and Niyama have regained not only radiant
health but strength, virility and fresh youth also.
The Permanent Effect of Kalpa Siddhi: Kalpa Sadhana produces everlasting
effect on the body. The subtle energy of the materials used in this Sadhana such
as pure Cow's Milk, honey, butter-milk, etc., enters into the seven Dhatus such
as blood, flesh, etc., of the practitioner and produces miraculous effect which
lasts for several years. It is due to this energy that even terrible diseases like
phthisis or T.B., Leprosy, Asthma, Cancer, Paralysis, etc., are destroyed from
the very root. In ancient times Rishis and celestial beings prolonged their lives
up to thousands of years through these Kalpas, and engaged themselves in
Tapascharya and spiritual Sadhanas. They even attained immortality. Even
today the glory of Kalpas is not hid-den from view. What is needed is our
resolute practice of Kalpa attended with Yama and Niyama.

लिनोकता: समसतता सपणखिननो भविनतप !

May all be happy?

RADIANT HEALTH THROUGH YOGA
"Health is Wealth". Good health is greatest asset for you. Without good health
you can hardly expect success in any walk of life. Even for spiritual pursuits,
good health is prerequisite. Without good health you cannot penetrate the
hidden depths of the vast ocean of life within and attain the final beatitude of
life. Without good health you cannot wage war with the turbulent senses and
boisterous mind.
Hatha Yoga is a Divine Blessing for attaining good health. Body and mind are
instruments which the practice of Hatha Yoga keeps sound, strong and full of
energy. It is a unique armour of defence to battle the opposing forces in the
material and spiritual field. By its practice you can annihilate Adhi-Vyadhi and
attain radiant health and God-realisation.
Hatha Yoga is a perfectly practical system of self-culture. You can attain
harmonious development of your body, mind, intellect and soul by the practice
of Yoga. It is an exact science. Hatha Yoga deals with a system of Yogic
exercises of the Indian Rishis and Yogins of yore based on scientific principles.
There is no vague doctrine here. It imparts to every practitioner definite
practical knowledge, fine health, longevity, strength, vim and vitality. You can
acquire absolute control over the whole of nature by the practice of Yoga. It will
help you to attain ethical perfection, perfect concentration of the mind and
unfold various psychic powers. Yoga brings message of hope to the forlorn, joy
to the depressed, strength to the weak and knowledge to the ignorant. Yoga is
the secret master-key that un-locks the realm of Elysian bliss and deep abiding
peace.
Component of Hatha Yoga: Shat-Kriyas, Asanas, Pranayama, Mudras,
Bandhas, and exercises in concentration and meditation, constitute Hatha Yoga,
which leads to the awakening of Kundalini Sakti and ultimate union with God
in Samadhi. Shat-Kriyas are preliminary purification processes. Asanas pertain
to the physical body, and the nerve-centres. They render the body firm and
steady and eradicate physical ailments and inertia. Pranayama aims at the
control of the vital breath. Bandhas pertain to the Prana. That which binds Prana
is a Bandha. They do not allow the Prana to move upwards and the Apana to
move downwards. They bind and unite the Prana with Apana and send the
united Prana-Apana along the Sushumna Nadi. Mudras concern the mind. They
represent seals. Mudra means a seal. They seal the mind with the Soul or
Atman. They do not allow the mind to wander outside towards objects. They
direct the externalising mind towards Atman in the chambers of the heart and
fix it there. A combination of these is essential.
Amongst all Asanas Sirshasana and Sarvangasana are essential and main
Asanas.
Sirshasana: Place a four-folded blanket on the ground. Sit on your knees. Make
a finger-lock by interweaving the fingers of both your hands; and place it on the
blanket. Keep the top of your head between the hands close to the finger-lock.
Raise the body, slowly till the feet are erect. Practise it by the side of a wall till
you get the balance. The benefits derived from this are incalculable. Memory is
improved. Eyes and ears are nourished and strengthened. A type of chronic
constipation produced by intra- abdominal pressure is also cured. It helps you
maintain Brahmacharya. Ojas Sakti is generated. Your face will shine with
lustre.
Sarvangasana: Spread the blanket on the ground. Lie down on your back.
Slowly raise the legs. Lift the trunk, hips and legs quite vertically. Rest the
elbows on the ground firmly and support the back with both hands. Press the
chin against the chest. Breathe slowly and concentrate on the thyroid gland.
This Asana is very good body-builder. It massages the thyroid gland. A healthy
thyroid ensures good health and long life, a prolonged youth. The spinal roots
draw abundant supply of blood. It removes dyspepsia, constipation,
appendicitis, other gastro-intestinal disorders and varicose vein. A course of
Sirsha-Sarvanga Asana powerfully rejuvenates the entire sys-tem.
Of course there are other Asanas e.g., Halasana, Matsyasana,
Paschimottanasana, Bhujangasana, Salabhasana, Dhanurasana,
Ardhamatsyendrasana, Mayurasana, Padahasthasana, Trikonasana, Chakrasana,
Savasana, etc., which rejuvenate and energise particular internal organs most
effectively.
Pranayama: Prana is the universal principle of energy or force. It is the vital
force. It is through the power of Prana that the ears hear, the eyes see, the skin
feels, the tongue tastes, the nose smells, the brain and the intellect do their
functions. The smile in a young lady, the melody in the music, the power in the
emphatic words of an orator, the charm in the speech of one's beloved are all
due to the Prana, the vital force. It is Prana that is responsible for the processes
of digestion, excretion and secretion.
Prana is expended by thinking, willing, acting, moving, talking, writing, etc. A
healthy man has abundance of Prana or nerve-force or vitality. The Prana is
supplied by food, water, air, solar energy. The supply of Prana is taken up by
the nervous system. The Prana is absorbed by breathing. The excess of. Prana is
stored up in the brain and nerve-centres. When the seminal energy sublimates or
transforms, it supplies abundance of Prana to the system. It is stored up in the
brain in the form of Ojas.
Pranayama is the control of the Prana and the vital force of the body. It is
regulation of the breath. This is a most important step. The aim of Pranayama is
the control of Prana. Pranayama begins with the regulation of breath for having
control over the life-currents through the control of breath. Breath is the
external manifestation of the gross Prana. A correct habit of breathing must be
established by the regular practice of Pranayama. In ordinary worldly persons
the breathing is irregular.
Pranayama, though it concerns the breath only, gives good exercise also to the
various internal organs and the whole body. Pranayama removes all sorts of
diseases, improves health, energises digestion, invigorates the nerves, removes
passion and awakens Kundalini Sakti (Spiritual Divine Power). It bestows good
health and steady mind. A Pranayama practitioner will have a light body, free
from diseases, a very fair complexion, a melodious voice.
He who practises Pranayama will have good appetite, cheerfulness, a handsome
figure, great strength, courage, enthusiasm, a high standard of health, vigour and
vitality and good concentration of the mind. This system of Yoga is highly
suitable for people in the West or East, men, women and children.
There is an intimate connection between the mind, Prana and semen. If one
controls the seminal energy, the mind and Prana are also controlled. If the mind
and the Prana are both controlled, one gets liberation from the wheel of birth
and death, and attains Divine Knowledge, Immortality, Peace and Bliss.
Pranayama removes all sorts of diseases, improves health, energises digestion,
invigorates the nerves and awakens the hidden powers in man. In the science of
Yoga, there are many wonderful exercises suitable to different types of people.
Many have derived incalculable benefits through the practice of Pranayama,
breathing exercises for a short period. People are unnecessarily alarmed of the
dangers in the Pranayama. There is absolutely no danger at all. The practice
should be done in a systematic manner after having a thorough knowledge of
the science and the technique.
Kapalabhati: It is an exercise for cleansing the skull. Kapala means "Skull" and
Bhati means "to shine". This exercise makes the skull shine.
Sit on Padmasana or Siddhasana. Close the eyes. Per-form Rechaka and Puraka
rapidly. This should be practised vigorously. One will get perspiration
profusely. This is a good exercise for the lungs also. Those who are well-versed
in Kapalabhati can do Bhastrika very easily. Rechaka should be done forcibly
by contracting the abdominal muscles. Do 20 expulsions for a round and
gradually increase the number to 120. In Kapalabhati there is no Kumbhaka.
Kapalabhati cleanses the respiratory system and the nasal passages. It removes
the spasm in bronchial tubes. Consequently asthma is relieved and also cured in
course of time. The apices of the lungs get proper oxygenation. Consumption is
cured. Impurities of the blood are thrown out. The circulatory and respiratory
systems are toned up to a considerable degree.
Kapalabhati is regarded as one of the Shat-Kriyas or preliminary purificatory
practices essential for one who intends to take to the practice of Pranayama
seriously. The others are: Neti, Dhauti, Nauli, Bhasti, and Trataka. Even the
aspirant who wishes to practise a few rounds of Pranayama as part of his daily
Sadhana would do well to start the Pranayama after a few rounds of
Kapalabhati.
Sukha Purvaka Pranayama: Sit on Padmasana. Close your eyes. Close the
right nostril with the thumb. Draw in air very slowly through the left nostril.
Now close your left nostril also with the right ring and little fingers, and retain
the breath as long as you comfortably can. Then, very, very slowly exhale
through the right nostril after removing the right thumb. Again draw in air
through the right nostril, retain it as long as you can after closing both the
nostrils and exhale through the left nostril after removing the little and ring
fingers. This is one Pranayama. Repeat the Pranava or your lshta Mantra during
Kumbhaka.
In the beginning, for a few days do only Puraka (inhalation) and Rechaka
(exhalation). After some practice, you can combine Kumbhaka (retention) also.
To start with, practise Kumbhaka only for 10 seconds and then gradually
increase the period. First you can do 5 Pranayamas in the morning and evening.
After some practice you can do 10 Pranayamas. Gradually increase the number
to 20 in the morning and evening. The ratio for Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka
is 1:4:2. Do not at-tempt at this in the beginning; after some practice this ratio
will come automatically.
By the practice of this Pranayama the body becomes strong and healthy. The
practitioner becomes very handsome and his voice becomes very sweet and
melodious. He is freed from all sorts of diseases. He fully gets established in
Brahmacharya. Appetite becomes keen. Nadis are purified.
The mind becomes one-pointed. Rajas and Tamas are destroyed. The mind is
prepared for intense Dharana and Dhyana. An advanced Yogi acquires Siddhis
and Riddhis.
Ujjayi: Sit on Padma or Siddhasana. Close the mouth. In-hale slowly through
both the nostrils in a smooth, uniform manner till the lungs become full. During
inhalation a mild uniform sound is produced. Close both the nostrils and
perform Jalandhara, by pressing the chin against the chest. Retain the breath as
long as you can and then exhale very slowly through the left nostril.
This Pranayama can be done even while you are standing. It removes the heat in
the head. The practitioner becomes very beautiful. The gastric fire is increased.
Asthma, consumption and all sorts of pulmonary diseases are cured. Perform
Ujjayi to destroy decay and death.
Bhastrika: Rapid succession of forcible expiration is a characteristic feature of
Bhastrika.
Sit on Padmasana or Siddhasana. Keep the body, neck and head erect. Make the
palms rest on the knees. Close the mouth. Now inhale and exhale quickly
twenty times like the bel-lows of the blacksmith. Constantly dilate and contract
the chest. Rapid expulsions of breath should follow one another in rapid
succession. You can partially close the glottis. After twenty inhalations and
exhalations, have a deep inhalations. Retain the breath as long as you can do
and then exhale very, very slowly through the nostrils. Twenty expulsions make
one round. You can do three or four rounds in the morning and evening. To
begin with have only 10 expulsions for one round and gradually increase the
number to 20.
This Pranayama can be done while standing also, by keeping the hands at the
hips.
If you experience a slightest giddiness, stop the practice and take a few normal
breaths. After each round you can take rest for 2 minutes.
Bhastrika relieves inflammation of the throat, increases gastric fire, destroys
phlegm, removes diseases of the nose and chest and eradicates asthma,
consumption, etc. It gives good appetite. It enables one to awaken the
Kundalini. All dis-oases that arise from the excess of bile, phlegm and wind are
removed. It gives sufficient warmth to the body. It purifies Nadis. It is the most
beneficial of all Kumbhakas. Bhastrika should be specially practised as it
enables the Prana to break through the three Granthis that are located in the
Sushumna. The practitioner will always be healthy.
Sitali: Fold the tongue like a tube lengthwise. Protrude it a little away from the
lips. Draw in the air through the mouth with the hissing sound Si. Retain the
breath as long as you can hold it with comfort. Then exhale slowly through both
the nostrils. This can be practised for 10 or 15 minutes even while sitting or
standing, or walking.
This Pranayama purifies the blood. It quenches thirst and appeases hunger. It
cools the system, and destroys Gulma (chronic dyspepsia), Pliha (inflammation
of spleen), various chronic diseases, fever, consumption, indigestion, bilious
dis-orders and other diseases. This removes poisons of all sorts from the blood.
After a regular practice of this Pranayama for a long period the blood becomes
so very pure that even the poi-son of snakes will not affect the body. When you
feel thirsty, practise Sitali. You will be immediately relieved of thirst.
It is said that while Suryabheda Pranayama destroys the excess of wind in the
system, Ujjayi removes phlegm and Sitali removes bile and Bhastrika removes
all kinds of excess of these three humours.
Maha Mudra
Press the anus with left heel and stretch out the right leg. Slowly bend forwards
and catch hold of your right toe with the hands. Inhale and retain the breath.
Press the chin against the chest and form Jalandhara Bandha. Fix the gaze at the
Trikuti. Retain the breath as long as you can comfortably hold. Then slowly
raise the head and exhale very, very slowly. The expiration should never be
done in a hurry. You can repeat this 4 to 6 times. In the same way do on the
other side by pressing the anus with the right heel and catching hold of the left
toe.
This cures consumption, haemorrhoids or piles, enlarge4 ment of spleen,
indigestion, chronic gastritis, constipation, fever, etc. Life is lengthened. It
confers great Siddhis on the practitioner.
This is really Maha Mudra, the great Mudra. The practitioner can digest all
kinds of foods; even poison is transformed into nectar by the practitioner.
MAN CAN LIVE FOREVER
(Georgi Gurevich)
Why do we live and die? How long shall we live? Can death be put off, and
how long? These questions always troubled people—scientists and non-
scientists alike. Pondering over these questions I turned to science and I dug in
books and sought the advice of scientists. I always got the conventional answer:
'man can live till he is 150, the natural boundary of life.'
But what is a "natural boundary"? Cannot one live, say, five years beyond this
boundary? Or will it be unnatural, and what will happen then? Will death
ensue?
Why does death come at all? As many as two hundred answers were found to
that question. The organism wears out; all ferments are used up; the vessels
calcify; moving albumens are substituted by less moving ones; connective
tissues grow out; and the organism is poisoned by intestinal bacteria...
The wearing out of the organism seems to be a rather plausible explanation.
Machines, shoes, fabrics all wear out. So, it appears that, like a leather-coat, our
body must wear out sooner or later.
But science has established that the human organism has no resemblance to a
leather-coat, nor to a machine or rock. It may rather be compared with a river,
which flowed a thousand years ago and continues flowing on and on, with its
water gone into the sea but still remaining the same. Can anyone say that the
river wears out?
And we, human beings, resemble a river. Our life is continuous self-renewal.
Albumen molecules are constantly being destroyed and replaced by new ones. It
has been estimated that man's blood is fully renewed in about four months’
time. All the atoms in the human body are completely replaced in the course of
a few years.
But if man is not a structure but a river-bed—a pro-cess—then all the theories
of wearing out of the organism are groundless. All that was polluted, poisoned,
worn out in the first years of life has been long discharged from the organism.
For fifty years the body can successfully cope with its wearing out, and then this
characteristic will start failing. This means that it is not the intestines, the
vessels and the heart that are at fault. It is the fault of the pair organism of the
human body, i.e., the nervous system.
There is another explanation which is borne out by facts. It is known that the
nerve-cells are not renewed throughout man's life. So, with each year there
remain less and less nerve-cells in man. The nervous system as a whole
becomes weaker.
Have we really got an answer here, or have we just put it off? It seems we have
really put it off. The nerve-cells, like other nerves in our body, are not a
structure either, but a process. A continuous flow of atoms takes place through
them. Some molecules fall apart, others originate. The cells renew themselves
many times, and then the self-renewal ceases for some reason or other. Is it
because the nervous systems live the longest?
Actually, it is the tree that lives the longest. But wheat, which has no nerves
either, lives for only a year. Similarly the amoeba, which also does not have
nerves, lives for about half an hour.
Now let us take the opposite view and assume that the nervous system is not the
weak but strong link in the organism. (Actually, the nerve-cells live the
longest). But it is insufficiently perfect yet. Nerves do not last long.
But that would mean that the animals of the highest species, with the most
perfect nervous system, should live the longest.
However, that is not so. A crocodile, tortoise and pike live longer than man.
So we arrive at the conclusion that longevity is not directly dependent on the
perfection of the nervous system.
Thus, the question, why does old age set in remains unanswered.
And on reading the two hundred answers over and over again I noticed that they
all had a common feature. Everybody giving these answers maintained that life
could not last long. And everybody was looking for the weak point, the
weakness of which would sooner or later lead to the destruction of the organism
(the large intestine, vessels, nerve-cells).
One cannot help asking whether that is the right point to proceed from and
whether the human body is really so weak that it cannot live longer than the
"natural boundary".
And here we would like to remind our readers that it was one hundred years ago
that the famous work by Charles Dar-win, the great English scientist entitled
The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection came off the press.
Before Darwin people used to admire nature and say: "Oh, with what great
wisdom is nature organised, how much expediency there is in each little blade
of grass, in each little bug and spider!" And only Darwin gave an explanation
for all this expediency. It is only that which is wise and expedient that is capable
of surviving, all that is useless perishes and dies off.
So there appeared the timid idea that, perhaps, old age and death are of some
use, perhaps they are good to the animals (good in the Darwinian sense, of
course)—not to the individual animal but to the species as a whole.
We know each species—from virus to man exists in the form of generations
which gives place to the next generation. Why is this so? Because the change of
generations helps the perfection of the species, helps it to adapt itself to life
more rap-idly. An animal, as it adapts itself to changing conditions, changes its
behaviour and shape of the body. But every engineer knows that he cannot
change a design endlessly. There comes a stage when it is better to start all over
again.
It is in the offspring that nature starts building all over again, uniting the
achievements of father and mother. There appears a better model—the child.
But the old model (parents) is older, stronger, bigger. It eats the same food in
the same area. So long as father lion brings food to his cubs, he helps them to
grow. But when the lion family falls apart, father lion be-comes a handicap to
the young ones. Being stronger, he has the greatest part of food to himself. The
young ones are unable to chase him away, they cannot compete with him. And
it is nature that comes to their aid. It deals with father lion mercilessly and in
cold blood. The lion grows old and dies, yielding place to the young.
If the change of generations is really good for the species, nature must take care
that the generations succeed each other, that the old gives way to the young.
Zoology provides endless facts corroborating this view. Thus, ephemera live for
only a few hours, hatch their eggs, and die. The larva of the ephemera, however,
lives for three years.
Wheat dries as soon as its seeds fall out. Why should it not live for another
month or two when all the requisite factors—the sun, the soil, the carbonic acid
—are present. The plant will not give seeds again. It will exhaust the soil, using
up the salts that should go to the next generation. The further existence of the
plant is useless and even harmful to the species; and nature puts an end to it—
the ear dries up.
But such cessation of life takes place in the case of those animals and plants that
bear offspring only once in their life-time.
Birds and animals take care of their offspring. The little ones need their parents
after they have come into the world. That is why in the case of animals of
higher species (including man) the self-destruction of the organism acquires the
masked form of gradual ageing, extended throughout a great number of years.
These years are necessary to give the parents a chance to raise all—even the last
—of their children.
What is the total number of years allotted to man? He needs 15 to 20 years to
grow up. Then he must bring into the world a sufficient number of children, at
least so many that two of them would grow up. If their number is less, the
species will become extinct. For the sake of these two offsprings, the cod-fish
lays 36 million roecorns and birds produce hundreds of younglings. Man—the
most sensible, the best adaptable, and the most caring of all animals—has
scored a record in his survival. He (i.e., the primitive man) succeeded in
preserving two children from eight to ten. It probably took 20 to 30 years to
bear ten children. And there were another 15 years to raise the last of them. So
the entire period came to 50-65 years.
The conclusions are rather discouraging and, thus, there is no promising
"natural boundary" which life strives to attain. There exists but a natural length
of time, and only some 50 or 65 years, and not 150. Then the nervous system
fails, there comes extinction, self-destruction.
If the self-destruction of the organism is good for the species then there must be
some device in the organism which would put an end to life and at the proper
time—not too early not too late.
Such 'breakers' that function at the exact time are called, in engineering, time
relays. Each animal and each plant has scores of time relays because each
timely action needs its own time relay. The seed needs a relay to sprout in
spring and not in winter. The leaf needs a relay to get yellow and fall off in
autumn and not in spring. The flower needs a relay to flourish and the hungry
wolf needs one to go for his prey and another to di-gest his food when he has
had his full. Relays are necessary to go to sleep in time and to get up in time.
Each relay has the following operating pattern; there is the object of count (most
frequently it is time) and a counter (clock) which at the right time sends a signal
to the 'breaker'. This cuts some mechanism in or out.
However, the relay should not be pictured as being purely mechanical, i.e., must
at all cost there be a ticking clock, wires and button? Of course, not. The role of
counter in the living body may be played by nose, eyes, nerves, glands, or some
substance in the blood or in the spleen. It will not be an easy job to locate the
relay of old age and death in our body. These are yet only some unripe and
controversial ideas. Nevertheless I shall dwell on them here.
The first item to be studied here is the object of count. What does the "clock" of
our life count? Is it time—years? No, it is not. Old age comes to different
persons at different ages. To some old age comes at 70 while some get old at 35.
Perhaps the "clock" counts our offspring? If we have brought in the world a
previously-determined number of children, then it will be time to die but then
the bachelors and the childless would live longer than others and that would be
contrary to the interests of the species.
There is no use in conjecturing. This problem has already been solved by
science. The "clock" of our life has been proved to count our troubles—grief,
cares, tiredness, illness, etc. There is a folk saying, "grief ages man". The
conception under-lying this saying has been corroborated by experiments. Dogs
and rats put under adverse conditions and animals frightened or subjected to
pain, aged much quicker than others.
Then, perhaps, the secret of longevity is to do away with one's troubles, distress,
disappointments, etc. Do all you can to add to your happiness?
All that can make man's life happy is done in the Soviet Union, and the average
human life-span is increasing steadily in our country.
In Russia before the Revolution, of ten children born three died at the age of
less than a year, two children died before they were nine. In the Soviet Union
death of a child occurs rarely. Al-most all people live up to old age in our
country. By improving labour and everyday life conditions, by providing
medical treat-ment, sanatoria and pensions we prolong the lives of those who
are growing old and getting feeble.
Our country has done away with the social "troubles" bred in a class society.
Unemployment, starvation, poverty, oppression and rightlessness are unknown
in our land.
Moreover, all that is possible is done to do away with troubles that ail the body,
namely, infectious diseases, traumas, pains, overwork. One may say that the
best possible environ-ment is being created for the Soviet people to live in
happiness and joy.
But let us get back to the problem of old age. Where are man's everyday
troubles counted? Where is the pointer, indicating the coming of the old age,
moving? Science has not found this "clock" yet. We may only give expression
to some of our suppositions. It is most probable that the "clock of old age" is
located in the brain. It counts our troubles—grief and disappointments—our
negative emotions, to use a scientific expression. It is the brain that lies "in
charge" of all emotions.
What takes place in the "clock of old age"? What can the "clock" be like?
Most likely, following each trouble, with each "rearrange-ment" of the organism
and its adaptation to the changed circumstances, some kind of substance is
deposited in the "clock of old age". Possibly, it is a nerve-pigment. When a
certain quantity of it has accumulated, the "clock mechanism" functions and
sends the signal that it is time to switch on old age and to switch off life.
Thus, when old age is switched on, the destruction of the organism begins.
With the slow development of old age, there occurs in man just an unsetting of
regulation. Most likely, blood-pressure increases (hypertension), calcium gets
washed out of his bones and deposited in the vessels (sclerosis), some cells
gorge upon others (cancer), metabolism is infringed upon, re-sistance to
infection becomes lower, and so on and so forth.
All these diseases are known to medical science and doc-tors strive to treat
them. But medicine does not succeed in treating old age—the only thing it can
do is to prolong it. But it is the effect and not the cause that is treated. And the
process of aging continues unchecked.
Nature has not proved gracious to us. It has endowed us with an ardent love of
life, but at the same time it has given us a very modest time term—some 60 to
70 years—to enjoy it. And then comes merciless self-destruction.
But having lost hope in the favours of nature, we have gained another active
hope—that of obtaining longevity by our own powers.
There is an antidote for every poison. Mines can be cleared, clock-hands may be
moved, and even the process of self-destruction may be done away with.
If the role of hands, the role of the apparatus that starts the process of aging, is
performed by some substance, then the problem is to reduce its concentration. A
small treatment, say an operation or injection, may make the organism young
again for a certain number of years. Then a repeated course of treat-ment, and
one is young once more!
How long shall we live, having moved back the clock hands? All this will
depend on the doctor's skill; if they learn to move the hands faultlessly we shall
become some ten years younger, then another ten, remaining middle-aged
persons for a hundred, two hundred, a thousands years to come.
I thought about it all last summer. I put down my ideas on paper and was
amazed. Is death really a process of self-switching off? Is it possible that our
descendent will live a thousand years? It cannot be. I must have made a mistake.
But once I was visited by a mathematician who said: "I need help from science-
fiction. We are in the realm of prejudice. We do nothing to get rid of it".
The mathematician considered disease to be the cause of old age. And he
suggested to combat old age by constructing a machine which should diagnose
the disorders and search for new methods of treatment.
Soon after I met another person, an inventor. He, too, was of the opinion that
death was not inevitable. It should be sufficient to perform a surgical operation
once every 20 years, and man would remain younger for ever!
Then I came across the following idea in a book written by a science-fiction
writer; life in itself always strives towards immortality; by helping it we can
prolong life to three hundred years and even more.
Well, the idea is in the air. That means that science is coming closer to it. It is
time to get busy.
The ideas conveyed in this article were expressed by me in one of the Soviet
youth magazines. Now I am receiving letters from all parts of the country. Some
of my correspondents agree with me, others do not. Some introduce corrections,
but all of them are of the opinion that death should be fought.
I would be happy to receive from India, through the 'Soviet Land' magazine,
letters concerning this article.
Perhaps, scientists throughout the world by joining their efforts would succeed
in solving the problem of old age and death. It would be a wonderful co-
operation if all countries of the world join in declaring war on death.
(Courtesy, "Soviet Land")
IS THERE A LONG-LIFE SECRET
Somerset Maugham reached for a silver cigarette-box and talked about
"Neihans." For the first time this great writer was admitting his debt to Dr. Paul
Niehans the 76 year old Swiss exponent of cellular therapy who has treated
many of the world's most famous people in their search for a longer life.
"I met him here last year and he said: 'If you come to me I can do you a lot of
good.' I believed in him. And he did.
So now Mr. Maugham at 84 plans a world tour at an age when most men see
their future in carpet-slippers by the fire!
But he is only one member of an ever-growing queue of celebrated people—so
many of them in Britain—who are turning to Niehans in search of longer life.
When Dr. Niehans who treated the late Pope for many years returned recently
from Rome he found more than 2500 letters on his desk.
He has treated Germany's Dr. Adenauer. The Duke of Windsor went to see him
but changed his mind. The Duchess of Windsor went through with the
treatment.
Gloria Swanson and many more international stars have journeyed to his clinic.
One British millionaire flew him to Lon-don for private consultations.
"The wish to prolong life is as old as the human race" Dr. Niehans said "It is
one of the strongest instincts in the heart of every man and woman, but my
purpose is not just to prolong life but to give renewed vitality and youth.
"Sixty," he said, is the critical age, "That is the moment when my cellular
therapy gives best results. For women the injections even banish wrinkles. Old
age is deferred for ten or more years" says the doctor.
Looking at a Van Dyck painting, the gift of a grateful millionaire in his palatial
home near Montreux, he added "When I receive letters from kings and queens
and other personalities of such standing, who bare their hearts to me, I send
back their letters with my replies, so that they know there is no danger of their
secrets ever becoming known.
"I am equally familiar with beggars and millionaires. But I cannot talk of my
patients. The word must come from them alone."
Dr. Niehans' techniques are the subject of controversy in Britain and in medical
circles throughout the world. Doctors and Scientists who make a study of the
tissues (they are called gerontologists) are sceptical of the claims being made
for his "cellular therapy." Nevertheless his impressive list of patients continues
to grow.
What is cellular therapy? It is the injection into the human body of young living
cells from animals. This principle is not new. What is new is the Niehan's way
of doing it.
But Dr. Niehans is not the only man hunting for the 'elixir' of life.
Doctors and scientists using the electron microscope and applying delicate
biochemical tests are still at the stage of trying to solve the riddle of aging in the
human body's tissues and cells.
They seek to learn why tissues like the skin lose their elasticity, why the
calcium leaves the old person's bones and app pears in the walls of his arteries
and the valves of his heart.
And why, they want to know, do the billions of cells which are the body's
building bricks wither, get fatty and pigmented with the passing of the years?
Only by understanding what causes these changes in the cells can the
gerontologist scientifically plan how to slow them down or bring them to a stop.
Results of animal experiments are already opening up some exciting prospects.
It has been found that if rats are given more food than they actually need to
grow and mature they die earlier than similar healthy animals on a smaller diet.
For that and other evidence Dr. Hugh Sinclair, the Oxford Nutritionist warns
that overfeeding children makes them mature early and so may shorten their
lives.
Further experiments on rats by Dr. R.B. Fisher at Oxford, point to another
possible way to lengthen lives. Rats and men normally eat about 17 protein
ingredients, called amino-acids of which only ten are essential to life. By
feeding white rats on a diet from which unneeded amino-acids were excluded,
Dr. Fisher has shown that the animals live much longer than similar rats given a
fuller diet.
It may be that man can also add to his years, by picking his proteins more
carefully.
In addition to laboratory studies on the fundamental pro-cess of aging, world-
wide research is in progress on how to make men and women live longer by
preventing and curing the diseases of old age.
For it is agreed by many gerontologists that we do not die from old age itself but
from the diseases that accompany it.
Strangely, those diseases are now more prevalent than ever before. But always
the quest is for the answer to why some people should live longer than others.
Data compiled by life assurance officer prove that a plump person's expectation
of life is shortened according to the extent to which his weight is above average
for his age and height.
Many men and women are therefore, being taught by physicians how to
lengthen their lives by cutting down on the carbohydrates in their food.
From observations on London busmen, and post-mortem examinations on
thousands of other people, Dr. Jeremy Morris and his colleagues at the medical
Council's Social Medicine Unit in London have furnished impressive evidence
that taking a moderate amount of physical exercise helps to ward off coronary
catastrophies. There is, therefore, now a sound, scientific reason for that week-
end game of golf. Present-day transplantation experiments on animals raise
more thrilling prospects than did Dr. Serge Voronoff's attempts to graft the
reproductive glands of monkeys on to man. Dr. Erich Geiringer in Glasgow has
shown that when youthful adrenal glands were trans-planted into aged white
rats their life span seemed to be in-creased by about 50 per cent.
It is still not possible except in identical twins, to graft tis-sue from one human
being to another, but fascinating animal experiments by Dr. Alan Parks and his
team at the National Institute for Medical Research suggest how human beings
may be able to extend the life of their glands. Dr. Parkes removed the ovary
from a rat, treated it with ordinary glycerine, and put it down in the deep-freeze.
When long afterwards he took the gland up again it was not a day older. He
grafted it back into the by-now-aged rat from which it was taken and the gland
still worked. The same thing happened when testis tissue was taken from a male
rat, deep-frozen, and grafted back into the same animal when it had grown
older.
(Courtesy 'Health')
PROTECTION OF THE AURA AND
ATTAINING LONG LIFE
Let us try to understand in a simple way some of the functions of the human
aura. The aura is generated around the physical body being a part of the astral
body and is controlled by the quality of the vibrations coming from the mind.
For example when one is cheerful or happy a type of aura pervades around him
which will be pleasing to those in direct contact, but should the same person
burst out in a fit of anger another type of aura will manifest itself automatically,
thus the auras of ordinary people change according to their mental attitudes as
well as their physical health, as one who is in good health will have a stronger
aura than otherwise.
The subtle functioning of the aura is largely responsible for the attracting or
repelling of people one to the other, as it has been scientifically proved that
when people meet whose auras are functioning at similar wavelengths they
become friends, whereas, when one meets another whose aura is of a different
wavelength they will not be easily attracted to each other.
This subtle aspect of the aura has led psychologists to believe that this mutual
attraction due to the magnetism generated, which draws people of similar auras
to each other, is responsible for our expression of love on the physical and
mental planes.
When, however, we go into the spiritual plane the Yogi, Saint or advanced
spiritual aspirant generates a different kind of aura, which neutralises those of
ordinary people; as when one has transcended the negative, as well as the
Rajasic and Tamasic natures of the mind and is established in deep meditation,
one naturally generates pure and higher vibrations, which attract not only those
of similar auras, but also those of mixed or weaker auras.
It is here where the aspirant has to guard himself against a downfall in Yoga or
spirituality, as those of weaker auras tend to be caught in the magnetism and
vibrations of those with stronger auras, and because of this the weaker ones
desire to show expression of love or appreciation in the best way they could,
which are mainly limited to the material and physical planes, which may bring
the aspirant down once more into the lower planes of worldliness.
Whereas when advanced souls meet they may exchange in a detached way
objects, but there is largely an exchange of good vibrations, as their purity of
thoughts and actions are felt in the meeting of the aura.
Of course to do this at a split second when necessary means that one has to
develop a God-consciousness and the awareness of living in the Presence, so at
short notice one can close the eyes, do Pranayama, detaching the mind, and
men-tally pray, "Oh Lord, protect my body, mind and spirit."
So, 0 Aspirants! Always try to keep the aura of the highest order and thereby
you will gain a very, very long life and you can carry on with your Sadhana and
ultimately realise God.
LIFE OF SOME OF THE CENTENARIANS
Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve
Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve was born in a small village in Ratnagiri
District on the 18th April, 1858. At Murud, his birth place, he had the first
lesson in social service. As a boy, he read the news from the newspapers to the
residents who used to gather at the Durgadevi temple in the evening. Shortly
after-wards he worked at the counter of a co-operative store started by his
teachers. In 1886, he took the initiative in founding the Murud Fund for the
welfare of the residents of the area. Later he also provided the impetus for
reconstructing the school building at the place.
Having been born in a poor family, he was denied the benefit of even an
ordinary education and learnt his alphabet only at the age of 16. But by dint of
courage, industry and ability he graduated from the Elphinstone College in his
27th year. Like the great English writer Samuel Johnson, he refused to receive
any kind of charity such as free meals which were offered to him, but depended
entirely on his own efforts giving private tuitions and leading a life of
simplicity.
After graduation he worked in several schools in Bombay as a teacher of
Mathematics till 1891, when his services were requisitioned by the Deccan
Education Society as a professor of Mathematics in the Fergusson College. He
soon got himself enrolled as a life member of the Society. During this period he
came to be deeply interested in improving the social conditions of women
particularly widows, and as an example to others when he lost his first wife in
1891, he married a widow, although by doing so he subjected himself to all the
taunts and humiliations of the community. He founded the Widow Marriage
Association in 1892, and with the help of his wife whom he educated, he started
the Hindu Widows' Association in 1896, and Widows' Home in 1899.
While doing the work at the Widow Marriage Association Sri Karve began to
feel the necessity of providing educational facilities for widows. He founded the
Anatha Balikashram in Poona in 1896. Three years later the Ashram was shifted
to Hingne where it grew to its present proportions. In 1907 he started the Mahila
Vidyalaya for the education of girls. Unlike this Ashram, which was primarily
an institution for widows, the Vidyalaya was founded for providing educational
facilities for girls and married women also. A pamphlet on Japan's Women's
University gave Sri Karve the inspiration to start the Indian Women's
University. For nearly a quarter of a century Sri Karve worked for the
University with great zeal and vigour.
He travelled throughout India and moved round the world also. He collected
funds for the Women's University explaining and doing propaganda for its aims
and objects. He was elected Vice-Chancellor of the Women's University in
1932. He has come to be held in the highest esteem and regard not only in the
state of Bombay, but throughout India.
He has already received academic honours from four Universities. He was the
recipient of the honorary degree of D.Litt. of the Benares University in 1942,
LL.D. degree of the Poona University in 1951, D.Litt. of S.N.D.T. Women's
University in 1954 and LL.D. of the Bombay University in 1957. In 1955 and
1958 the president of the Indian Republic conferred upon him the title of Padma
Vibhusan and Bharat Ratna.
Maharshi Karve is essentially a pioneer and has all the qualities and virtues of a
pioneer. A man of great faith and vision, he has the satisfaction of seeing his
dream realised in his own life-time. To the present and future generation he will
re-main an example of "Plain living and high thinking" and is rightly considered
a Rishi of the old type.
His life of a hundred years is crowded with ceaseless activity. To the widows he
gave a new hope and new life; to the women he gave the light of education. He
took knowledge to the door of the villager and lit the lamp of human equality.
(Courtesy: `Sevika')
Dr. M. Visvesvaraya
On his 88th Birthday, Sri Dr. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya remarked: "Old age
left its card on me quite a long time ago, but I have been saying 'not at home'."
This eminent centenarian was born on 15th September, 1861, in a village in
Mysore State and the Dewan of that State, Dr. Visvesvaraya has been
responsible for the remarkable progress that Mysore has made in the fields of
industry, agriculture and education.
Dr. Visvesvaraya's life is a continuous song of work, hard work and untiring
work. He has had no time to grow old! All his time is given away to the service
of mankind and thus he remains an eternal youth.
A big volume has been published to commemorate his Birthday Centenary and
it lists all of Dr. Visvesvaraya's more remarkable achievements. In a word, he is
the spirit behind every marvel that has taken place in the promotion of Mysore's
industry, agriculture and education.
He was responsible for starting the Mysore University in 1916. He was the first
to bring about the separation of the Executive from the Judiciary in Mysore.
During the six-year Dewanship of that State (from 1912 to 1918) he introduced
a number of social reforms. Thus he has in him the unique combination of an
engineer and statesman. He was also first to point out the advantages of planned
economy.
He has given the following as the secret of his long life:
1. Food at regular hours daily.
2. Sleep for six to eight hours on an average.
3. Work-outdoor or office about eight hours.
4. Exercise, in the shape of a long evening walk (3 or 4 miles).
5. The comforts of life.
6. A determination to live long.
M.V. Subbiah
Sri M. V. Subbiah, a cultivator of West Godavari District, is over hundred
years, has three sons, two daughters, and twenty-six grand and great
grandchildren!
Even at this age he is very active and is able to undertake the tedious journey by
train from Andhra Pradesh to the Sivanandashram at Rishikesh.
He is regular in his habits and even today enjoys his meals thrice a day and a
good sleep.
His case is perhaps an illustration of the hereditary factor in longevity; his father
lived up to 110 years!
Sri Gange Har Maharaj
When I came to Rishikesh in 1924, Sri Gange Har Maharaj was outwardly an
old man in appearance; with grey hairs and wrinkled face. He was about 70
years of age then.
Even today, he is very strong and healthy and walks from Swarg Ashram to
Rishikesh—a distance of over two miles—even in the hot sun!
His longevity is attributable to Yoga Sadhana; for, he has etc. led an intensely
austere life, without any comfort or good food, etc.
107 Years Old Sri Bhimsen
How many people in the Capital today can claim to have witnessed the 1857
War of Independence? And, how many have bought three seers of ghee or 42
seers of milk for one rupee?
There is at least one. He is 107-years-old Bhimsen, passing days with the great-
grandson of his brother at a railway quarter near Delhi junction.
A shaggy beard hides most of his face. But his forehead is almost free of
wrinkles and you cannot fail to realise that he is remarkably strong for his age.
His body does not look time-worn.
Bhimsen has only one complaint. He feels uneasy about the hairs that have
grown between his teeth—only one of which has fallen so far. He has visited
doctors only to baffle them. They told him they had never heard of hair growing
between the teeth. His eyesight remains fairly strong except for a weak-ness of
the right eye.
Recipe for Fitness: What keeps Bhimsen so strong? It is his very heavy
schedule of physical exercise he keeps daily with religious zeal. It consists of
1500 `dands', 2000 baithaks' and Sirshasana for an hour.
Bhimsen was a renowned wrestler of Agra where he was born and lived until he
was 100, and still likes to believe that he is one. He declares: "Give me 15 seers
of milk, a can of ghee and a seer of nuts and I will challenge any of your
favourite wrestlers."
In his youth, food was cheap and he could afford a rich diet. "In our days we did
not have enough money circulating, but plenty of food. How have things
become topsy-turvy!" His meals now consist of one seer of milk, Dal and eight
Chapatis.
He cannot reveal any secret to account for his long and disease-free life. He
does not know whether his remaining a celibate all his life has done the trick.
Bhimsen can recollect every event of his life—how he fought 20 dacoits single-
handed, tipped budding wrestlers with tricks "which most of your fighters have
never known" and, of course, his visit 23 years ago to Mr. Nehru's house in
Allahabad.
How many more years does he wish to live? Bhimsen said with a broad grin: "I
do not know. But, I will not give in easily. I will employ all my wrestling tricks
to give death a good fight."
(Courtesy "Hindustan Times", 13-7-'56.)

LONGEVITY IN VEDAS
Introduction: From time immemorial the men with the philosophical bent of
mind were after finding an answer to two fundamental questions of life and
existence, namely—what is the ultimate truth of this magnificent yet baffling
creation and how to keep oneself fit bodily and mentally so as to carry out this
arduous quest after the ultimate truth.
The latter quest gave birth to many sciences, one of such outcomes being the
Science of 'Breath'. The life processes in the body are kept up through subtle
Pranas or vital forces. Different vital forces have different functions to do in the
body. For maintaining good body and mind these various forces must be kept
working harmoniously in co-operation with each other. That means, if an
individual intends living a good and long life, he should learn to control these
Pranas and keep them working harmoniously with each other.
Of all the various Pranas that are functioning in the body, only two Pranas are
capable of being controlled very easily. These are Prana, the vital force that
maintains inhalation and Apana, the one that keeps up exhalation. Controlling
and harmonising these two Pranas automatically bestow on the individual the
ability to control and harmonise other Pranas also.
In the following Mantras the need for practising the Asuneethi or the Science of
Breath is explained.
This Mantra is a prayer to Asuneeti, the Law of life-sustenance, for the up-keep
of vision, life and bodily enjoyments. From this prayer it is obvious that the
following things are possible:
1. Vision can be regained when it has become weak or spoiled.
2. Life which is weakening or dwindling, can be improved and prolonged.
3. The waning energy of the body can again be rejuvenated.
Now Asuneeti means life-sustaining principles which are to be practised if one
wants to rejuvenate himself and prolong his life. This science clearly explains
the methodical control of inhalation and exhalation which are the vital Asu or
Pranas in the bodies of all beings.
This Mantra hints also at the need to adjust our mode of living with the Sun for
the sake of seeing many more sunrises as he is the governor and conductor of
the Asu or Prana of all beings.
Life-sustenance in all beings is through two processes. One is inhaling, the other
is exhaling; of these two Vayus the Prana Vayu provides strength and energy
and the Apana Vayu throws out the impurities from the bodies of all beings.
Because these two processes remove Doshas or impurities and give the
individual strength and energy, the individual lives.
Actually pure air or Vayu is the panacea for all beings of the universe. It gives
peace, enlightens the heart giving Bliss and making one diseaseless.
As pure Vayu rejuvenates and helps healing of the ailments of our body, it is the
essence of all medicaments. Inhaling this pure Vayu will make the impurities of
our body get out in the form of contaminated air. So pure Vayu verily is the
representative of the gods. Therefore, one should always inhale this pure Vayu
which is the Life juice of every individual and maintain fine health keeping out
all diseases.
The individual mind is to be again and again impressed with the great need of
maintaining one's body properly so as to perform the duties of and enjoy life
properly.
In this Mantra the individual fervently prays for the proper functioning of the
various parts of the body.
He should have a powerful speech in order to express himself correctly to others
and to command others when there is a need for the same.
Good vision is essential in order to understand and enjoy the world in which he
is living.
Without proper flow of the Pranas through the nose the body can never be
maintained healthy.
Without good undecaying set of teeth neither the food can be enjoyed properly
nor proper health is maintained.
Black hair is the sign of vitality. Grey hair reduces the grace of the body.
Without grace in the body, without vitality in it what duty can be performed,
what life can be enjoyed?
Similarly only when there is plenty of strength and energy in one's hands, legs
and thighs, and when one's feet are firm and steady, then only one can enjoy as
well as perform the required duties of life.
Therefore, the individual prays through these Mantras for a firm steady heart,
good sight, hearing capacity, teeth, etc. and for strength and energy in his limbs.
He prays for full vitality in his body.
Thereby he wants to enjoy life to its full in an abode of great bliss tolerating
even the deadliest of his enemies.
Even after praying and getting a good graceful and healthy body which is full of
vitality the individual finds this alone is not sufficient to enjoy life to the fullest.
He finds some-thing, some link missing between himself and the enjoyments of
life.
And that he finds out to be the mutual amicability between himself and the
surroundings. That is the amicability between the world within and the world
without himself.
Therefore, he again prays for this unique unifying factor to prevail amongst all
and in himself so that there is harmony. There is amicableness between himself
and the creatures around him.
But even now the individual finds that the enjoyments of life are far away from
him. This time the missing link in the gar-land of happiness is in the
performances of duty not only by himself but by one and all around him.
So, he stands up to perform the duties that are expected of himself and through
suitable good acts that are beneficial to all, stirs up all learned men to perform
duties required of them.
Thereby longevity of life, fame, and joy of all mankind, and its leaders is
increased. Peace and joyous living among men and creatures are established.
Now the individual is satisfied. This joy knows no bounds. Now he enjoys life
with perfect bliss.
This day we have conquered; today we are very rich in all kinds of material
possessions; today let us be free from all our sins, which mar our eternal
enjoyments.
This Mantra expresses the fruits of one's struggles and quests after the truth of
his own existence and that of the creation. The individual starts searching for
the fundamental principles that are governing his evolution understands them
and asserts that for real success in life one should maintain one's various
faculties pure, powerful, penetrating and guide them with positive aspirations of
life.
Then he harnesses these ideas with great faith and diligence. The fruit of all
these struggles is perfect mastery over the mind and the various senses of
actions, perception and knowledge, a perfect mastery over the elements of
nature too.
Now he is beyond all fetters of mundane life and existence. His joy knows no
bounds. There is no measure for his richness. Beyond all sins he is. Thus he
achieves the pinnacle of one's own glory.
In this ecstatic state the individual expresses his feelings through above Mantra.
When questioned regarding the successes by some sincere devotees he explains
about his findings and the method of practice he followed to the end which
enabled him to realise the truth and fruits came to him one by one of their own
accord and brought him to the present position.
All his bodily ailments release his body from their vile clutches and made free
of all sorts of suffering and allowed his mind to gain the mostly needed tranquil.
He expresses with pleasure and thanks his mind which helped him in every
respect and state and made him under-stand the secrets of the path which should
be followed slowly and sincerely and they know the fruits thereof:
Life processes of all Beings are being carried out by two forces. One builds the
organism and maintains it. The other dis-integrates and dissolves the organism.
Thus life is maintained through these two forces or Pranas. The first one is
termed Prana. The latter is called Apana.
As long as Prana predominates life exists. When Apana takes hold of the body,
it disintegrates and ceases.
But for the maintenance of the body both must exist in harmony with each other
doing their respective functions.
Hence through this Mantra, the individual prays to both these vital forces in the
body Prana and Apana to live and work in harmony in his body thus enabling
him to carry on the different functions or activities of life most beneficially. He
further explains:

The individual perceives and performs all actions through the five senses, that
is, (a) seeing, (b) hearing, (c) speaking, (d) smelling and (e) feeling and the sixth
that is the mind.
The individual self-expresses itself directly through these six senses. The seat of
the combination of these six senses is the heart.
Unless these senses are perfected, purified and sharpened through proper
knowledge and refined feelings these may lead the individual astray and his
activities in unwanted consequences. He says, we should try to maintain all our
senses and the mind pure, powerful and guide them by proper knowledge and
refined feelings, so that there is peace and individual as well as collective
progress, among all. He explains about the mind:
In this Mantra the power of purified mind is explained. The individual does all
his actions through mind only and expresses himself directly through the mind.
This mind, when guided by proper intellect becomes very powerful and capable.
Unless the mind is clear and untainted with base thoughts it will lead the
individual astray ending in unwanted consequences.
It is through mind alone all achievements both of this world and the world
hereafter are achieved. Mind alone is the cause for bringing people together or
rupturing the friendship in them.
Hence we should try to maintain in us, a pure, powerful mind guided by proper
intellect, so that there is peace and individual as well as collective progress
among men.
Further he tells them to note:
In this Mantra the power of purified speech is explained. The speech is a direct
expression of the Self. This speech, when guided by proper knowledge becomes
very powerful and penetrating.
Unless the expression is clear and unmingled with malice it will lead to
altercations ending with unwanted consequences.
It is through speech alone friendship and enmity are brought forth between
individuals.
Hence we should try to maintain in us a powerful, sweet kind clear speech.
Now he explains the other important things which should be used and followed
very carefully and sincerely.

In this Mantra the individual extolls the greatness and utility of the Intellect.
Though the mind is doing all actions through the respective senses of action,
perception and knowledge, it cannot function properly without the guidance of
Intellect or Buddhi.
The intellect is the rudder which steers the ship of mind to its proper
destination. It is through this, the mind grows pure and rich in knowledge.
The eminent sages knowing well the value of this Intellect pray and serve i.e.,
devote themselves to acquire Intellect.
Even those men who have taken the vow of strict celibacy drink as it were
Intellect.
To such an Intellect which is even the cause of protection for the Devas, and
which is fit to be prayed, worshipped and acquired by all, I pray to live in and
guide my mind at all times.

Thank You