DEIVATHIN KURAL # 166 (Vol #3) Dated 22 Dec 2009.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 166 (Vol #3) Dated 22 Dec 2009.
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of the last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the middle of page No 765 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://Advaitam. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

85. After 1947, while we might have started with much nationalistic fervour, as the time went on, our freedom has not been made full use of in re-establishing our real national culture and strong points of our old value systems. We have been spending all our time and resources on aping, mimicking and copying the west in all walks of life, in the name of modernization and progress! Then by bringing in the concept of secularism, we have only put our own Hindu culture under shackles! So, as far as Ayur Veda is concerned, whatever Panagal Raja did to start with before 1947, has not been made full use of. Recently however, there are some indications of revival.

86. The only way that Ayur Veda can be revived is by making it more popular and widely practiced. There are three reasons as to why this system can be adopted as the main-stay in our country. First thing is that in Ayur Veda, what is forbidden in our aachaaraa-s is also taboo in this generally. Second is the ambient weather conditions existing in our country to which Ayur Veda is better adapted. Third is the fact that it is affordable cost wise. One more reason is that it's medicines can be very pleasant tasting to the mouth. Many of the herbs have pleasing aroma. Even some items like castor oil a purgative and 'nilavembu' that is rather bitter, do not stink like most of the allopathic medicines do!

87. Is it not very sad that, when surgery as a methodology has gone to rest of the world ( who did not know a thing about it ) from this country, we have been reduced to the condition of wondering, "Is there surgery in Ayur Veda?"! If we end up losing what is our hereditary privilege, we will have nothing to be proud of anymore! Instead we make a big show of exhibiting our Tribal Dances to foreign dignitaries and feel rather smug that we have done our duty in safe guarding our national culture!

88. Ayur Veda has all the characteristics and defining qualities of how a medical science should be; such as analytical knowledge of human beings, animal and plant bodies; study of diseases including symptoms, indications and reasons why they happen, methods of prevention, their treatment and follow up including all aspects of diagnosis and prognosis; study of the plants, methods of getting the raw materials from those plants, methods of preparing the various oils, ointments, khashayams, kwadams, tablets and powders! It is a national heritage to be protected, preserved and made proper use of. To let that wealth of knowledge go by default will be a monumental irresponsibility! We should spare no effort to revive and rejuvenate Ayur Veda to its fullest functional effulgence. Let us bear in mind the fact that Ayur Veda is closer and friendly-friendly to our religion and culture.

89. "Noyarra vaazhve kuraivarra selvam", is a Tamil adage meaning, 'to be healthy is the endless wealth'. Another one says, "suvarai vaiththu thaan chithiram", meaning, 'for a drawing or painting you need a wall or an easel'! They both emphasize the importance of healthy living. As Oliver Goldsmith the English writer poet, has regretted, village life with its unpolluted atmosphere, simplicity and healthy habits have been lost forever to city life full of stresses and strain with all verities of pollution, causing diseases to multiply to unmanageable proportions! It is a sad fact that villages to-day are only small scale townships, though retaining some of the old world charm! For the ills of human misbehaviour, we have to pray to God to intervene. To deserve that God’s intervention we have to take a vow ourselves to become more and more Nature Friendly in all our endeavour, attitudes and behaviour. There is no other alternative. In so doing, going back to Ayur Veda is one of the steps.

90. At the end of any pooja or Yaaga, the Pundit will be telling about the 'phala sruti', that is the good effects of our having done the pooja or whatever. Invariably there will be a phrase, "...rogaarthie muchyate rogaath...", meaning, 'let the people who are suffering from ill health be relieved of their diseases'. To protect, sustain and nourish our religion, it is clear that we should try and maintain good health. In doing so, let us make use of Ayur Veda which is close to the ideals and methods of our religion and culture. I pray to God to bless you all to benefit from this lecture on Ayur Veda!

Sambhomahadeva.