I just could not believe it, as I have always been a healthy person. I became extremely restless and tensed due to this whole situation, but then I took to my last and final resort – I started doing my short Kriya, which I had not done since a long time, and contacted the Art of Living centre faculty in my area and started doing my long Kriya as well. As usual, the Art of Living teachers helped me in strongly facing my situation to a great extent. Meanwhile, I somehow felt very much at ease through this whole chaotic situation, as though there was divine intervention. I kept asking Guruji to give me a sign that He is with me and that I would be fine. Indeed, He gave me those signs, and finally, on 21st April, I got operated. It was a benign tumour and was spreading towards my eye, but by Guru’s grace, the surgery went off really well, without any problem, and I was perfectly normal.

They had healed well but I had been told by the doctor to avoid sitting on the floor. But being a nursery school teacher I could not avoid sitting on the floor so I had started having a problem with my right leg.If I sat down I could not get up without support.When I joined the Part 1 Course in 2000, I was a bit apprehensive and was under the impression that I couldn’t meditate. But wonder of wonders after the first Sudarshan Kriya, I was out for almost 35-40 minutes. I was told that was Samadhi meditation. After the Kriya, before I went into meditation,I felt a person’s leg touch mine. All the 45 people in that course were unknown to me. After meditation, as I opened my eyes, a young girl comes up to me and asks me if I have hurt my right knee as Guruji had asked her to heal it. I was shocked as no one there knew about my accident. Apparently this girl’s leg had touched mine after Kriya while lying down. She was form Delhi and had come for a visit to her parent’s home in Mumbai. I then realized I could get up and sit down easily without any support. The second time He healed my leg was one and a half years later. I used to go for morning walks to the RaceCourse. The footpaths were dug up by the BMC. I had twisted my leg a little on the uneven path. A few days later I realised,I had started feeling tiredness when I stood for a while or while walking,and a burning sensation at the base of my right foot. I would also experience some excruciating pain on my right leg that I couldn’t move till the pain would subside. It was painful and horrible. I showed my leg to an Orthopedic and he prescribed a light (rays) treatment and physiotherapy with weights and also suggested an MRI. The MRI report said I had cartilage damage on my right leg for which I had to undergo an expensive treatment. Before the treatment I decided to go to Bangalore for my first Navratri Advance course. I requested my Principal to give me leave for 12 days as I would only miss 4 working days in that fortnight as there were many bank holidays and 2 weekends. But despite requesting her I got leave for only 6 days and I was happy that I could at least do the advance course at the Ashram. In those days I did not know the importance of the last 4 days of Navratri. But the people on the train,which was mainly full of only Maharashtra participants of the advance course happening at the Ashram,told me that the last 4 days of Navratri are very important and powerful. And that people came from all over the world for just those 4 days. But as I had no other alternative I just shrugged it off. As we reached the Ashram, an Art of Living teacher told me for one last time to request my Principal to extend my leave for 5 more days. When I called my Principal, she told me to stay for as long as I wanted as she was managing my class. That by itself was a miracle as a person who was so adamant about not giving me leave had just turned around all of a sudden and told me to stay for as long as I wanted and I am quoting her exact words. The next miracle took place on Ashtami,the 8th day of Navratri. I had worn a new pink salwar kameez. In those days the Yagnashala mandap had a bamboo structure. As I crossed over the bamboo,taking a short cut to my place in the mandap, my churidar tore exactly over my right knee. I was a liitle surprised as the cut was at an exact right angle,1 inch horizontal and 1 inch vertical on the right knee. Normally if a cloth gets torn on a bamboo,it can tear anyhow and can also have a few loose threads dangling but this cut was straight and no loose threads. A few minutes later when Guruji came into the mandap, he looked straight at where I was sitting,despite 20,000 people in the mandap. I was just blank as I was looking at him.A few hours after the pooja, as I got up and walked and later climbed up the stairs in the Ashram,I realised all my pain was gone. I was completely healed. JGD.

You do this course now, and since I am in Bangalore, you come here in December and we will do the Advanced course at the Ashram. It will be amazing!” Pradnya (Me): “Ok Nami :)” That was it. I googled the website of Art of Living, found two phone numbers, called up and signed up for the course. Out of the two teachers, I selected the one whose voice appealed to me. Thank God for my madness, otherwise I wouldn’t have met the very wonderful Aruna Aunty, my Teacher! That was the beginning of my spiritual journey. I got introduced to a life that has Sudarshan Kriya, Satsangs, Seva, Knowledge and GURUJI 🙂 All this while I had just known Sri Sri as the founder of AOL, but now, He had become my personal Guru. All I can say is that I liked Him, liked Him because He was always smiling. Every time I looked at any of His snap, I smiled. I got the same feeling you get when you look at a child. I always wondered – how can any person manage to evoke such intensely blissful emotions? My love for Guruji took its own time to blossom. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight for me. But He didn’t wait to check how I felt, He loved me from day one! His magic flowed into my life right from 16th September 2011!!! Every day, I find moments where I am amazed as to how my work gets done, how situations that seem so complex get sorted so effortlessly. I am amazed at the innumerable surprises that life gives me, the abundance of love that I am blessed with. From fulfilling each and every wish to saving me from falling into disastrous situations, the past 3 years have been wonderful. He has delivered even when I have fought with Him, got angry at Him, lost faith in Him. The most beautiful thing is that He has accepted me always when I have come back, with all my flaws, and loved me for what I am. He just doesn’t seem to give up on me, and for this, I am grateful to Him. There are times on this spiritual journey, when you are confused. There is a dilemma between your conditioned mind and spiritual teachings. You may even feel like an outcast because you could be criticized for being on the path, your close ones would not be able to relate to you. We may have to go through these situations, but when you see the growth in yourself, when you see how far you have come as a person, you just don’t want to stop. There is this question that people tend to ask, “Do you choose a Master, or does the Master choose you?” To which there is an answer “When you take 1 step towards the Master, the Master takes 10 steps towards you”. I thank you Guruji, that you took those 10 steps towards me. I thank you Guruji, for you sailed me through my thick and thin. I thank you Guruji, that you never let me down. I thank you Guruji, for simply being the way you are. You are my Everything. I'm glad, happy, grateful and fortunate that I have a Guru and that is you - Sri Sri. Always so grateful. 

 I would dismiss my doubts . However I noticed some higher power never let me meet the guy . So many times we had planned to meet in a span of 1 year but everytime something would happen and we would not be able to meet . How we never met even after he booked flight tickets is just another guru story. It was so clear that Gurudev doesn't want me to meet Him. 

 It is a popular houseplant and has become naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas. Young plants grow from the margins of old leaves. Leaves are thick, soft, juicy; basal leaves are simple but upper one become 3-5- foliate pinnate, margin slightly serrated. The palt is used in various ways. Forexample thepaste of the herb is applied on forehead to alleviate headache; leaf paste is applied externally to cure cuts and wounds; fresh sap of plant is used for eye diseases. A product of the the palant ‘Regenerating Day Cream’ a multiherbal medicine enhances skin’s tone and elasticity, helping to smooth wrinkles and fine lines. Five patents were found on the medicinal applications of Kalanchoe mainly as an anti obesity medication. 

Reference 

Surendra Parihar

Ex.Professor and Head.

Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute,

Pusa, 

New Delhi, 

India 110012

🐥🫛The chickpea or Bengal gram ( Cicer arietinum) is an edible legume and an annual herb. 

🌿The plant grows to between 20 and 50 cm high and has feathery, pinnately compound leaves on either side of the stem, with small soft leaflets.

🌸The flowers are white with purple veins or sometimes the petals themselves are purplish. One seedpod contains two or three peas/ seeds.

🐥🫛The seed is green when young and matures to a beige or brown colour when dried . The young green seeds are consumed raw or cooked and the dried seeds are cooked as part of many Middle Eastern and Indian dishes like the Hummus and Chana Masala to name a few.

❤️‍🩹🥗HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHICKPEA

Chickpea is a rich source of vegetarian protein . It is also rich in folate, fibre and vitamins of the B group as well as calcium and magnesium. It is believed to enhance overall body vigour and strength. But it must be cooked properly as it contains saponins and may be difficult to digest by some people.

🫛🌿Common name: Chickpea, Bengal gram

Scientific name: Cicer arietinum

Family: Fabaceae

Native to the Middle East and India

References: Wikipedia

Reference 

Plants of Singapore

Despite its beautiful rose scent, the pretty Climbing Oleander is not as friendly as it appears. The plant contains high concentration of cardiac glycosides, which are organic compounds that increase the output force of the heart. Ouabain is the main glycoside found in the seed, it is odorless but very bitter and extremely toxic. Extracts containing ouabain have long been used by Somali tribesmen and other groups to poison hunting arrows.

The plant has shiny, leathery, olive green, oblong to elliptical, glabrous leaves. The leaves are used to treat gonorrhea and constipation, as well as applied externally to treat snakebites and to cure fever. The root is said to be an aphrodisiac. Most notably the seeds contain the highest concentration of glycosides which can be extracted and used as a rapid cardiac stimulant. Ouabain derived from the plant's seeds is used as a treatment for heart failure

More recent studies have found a novel use that can prove relevant for treatment of prostate cancer. This plant is still poisonous and can cause nausea, vomiting, and heart problems if not used properly.

Popular as an ornamental it is grown in gardens and parks. The plant prefers full sun and fertile soil for optimum growth.

Scientific name: Strophanthus gratus

Common names: Climbing Oleander, Rose Allamanda, Indian Rubber Vine

Family: Apocynaceae

Native Distribution: West Africa

Picture credits; Jyoti Prateek 

References: 

Reference 

Plants of Singapore

a perennial or annual shrubby plant native of South America. It is now naturalized in India. In traditional medicine, it is a reputed drug in the treatment of rabid dog-bites and poisonous insect bites. The dried leaves and flowering tops are known for their narcotic and anti-spasmodic properties. 

Reference 

Surendra Parihar

Ex.Professor and Head.

Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute,

Pusa, 

New Delhi, 

India 110012

It is an annual vine with trifoliate leaves and yellow flowers. The seed pods are pubescent and radiate out from a central point like a fan. Each pod contains 7-8 seeds.

Its sprouts are believed to be a health food with many health benefits including protein and vitamin B rich content along with anti-cancerous properties.

Reference 

Plants of Singapore

 Plumbaginaceae, an evergreen shrub with sky blue flowers. The flowers are borne in rounded terminal clusters and look quite a bit like phlox flowers. A native to South Africa and Mozambique. The specific epithet auriculata means "with ears", referring to the shape of the leaves. Plumbago is used traditionally to treat warts, broken bones and wounds. It is taken as a snuff for headaches and as an emetic to dispel bad dreams.

Reference 

Surendra Parihar

Ex.Professor and Head.

Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute,

Pusa, 

New Delhi, 

India 110012

Terminalia arjuna (commonly known as Arjun in India) - Combretaceae, an evergreen tree and considered a tree for healthy heart i.e. a cardioprotective plant.

 The stem bark of the plant, which is generally used for medicinal purposes, is described in Ayurvedic terms as being acrid, sweet, cooling, styptic, tonic, antidysenteric, and febrifuge in nature.

Reference 

Surendra Parihar

Ex.Professor and Head.

Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute,

Pusa, 

New Delhi, 

India 110012

 Rhizome is aromatic, acidic, bitter, pungent, carminative, stomachic, stimulant, expectorant, anti-asthmatic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory. It is useful in asthma, bronchitis, vomiting, dyspepsia, and inflammations. One of the most important plant in Ayurveda.

Reference 

Surendra Parihar

Ex.Professor and Head.

Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute,

Pusa, 

New Delhi, 

India 110012

🐍 🫛 Chinese long bean, Yardlong Bean or Snake bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) is a climbing annual plant from the family Fabaceae. 

🐍🫛You can spot the beans of this plant in most wet market stalls here. 

🌿The plant can be identified by its leaves that are dark green, trifoliate with 3 leaflets, where the first two leaflets are asymmetrical while the terminal leaflet is symmetrical.

🐍🫛The beans start growing after 2 months of sowing seeds. They require full sun, moderate water and well drained soil for optimal growth.

🐍🫛Grown mainly for its edible green pods it is a major food crop of South East Asia. The young succulent pods are crisp and have a distinct beany flavour unlike the sweet flavour of green beans. These pods are consumed fresh or cooked.

Reference 

Plants of Singapore

Day 92 

They thin down the curtain around the light. You are the light, but you don't know this because there is a thick curtain around you, an iron curtain. Pranayama thins down that curtain, and makes you more transparent so that you are able to see that you are light. This is the benefits of pranayam.

And then there is another benefit, The mind develops this ability to stay at any one point in the body, to say on any one thing. It gains the ability to intend. Until then, there had been no intention. You were just like a moving cloud. 

You had no intention at all. Now with pranayama, there is clarity and you are able to have an intention and a direction. That is why you will notice, after a good pranayama, your mind is clearer, steadier and calmer. You are able to feel your body. You are able to even meditate. The mind is used to clinging to objects of the senses. 

Guided meditations give it something different to cling to. This is called pratyaahara - a substitute food for the mind. It is a substitution for the mind in order to coax it to come inside. You may have danced. It was a substitute for something that you normally do. 

And after the dance, you felt that is was wonderful. So, it is called pratyaahara, a substitute for the mind to dive into. This brings all our senses, our body and everything else together as one whole. 

You feel you are one whole. After a good meditation, you feel that you are whole, that you are total.

That is why Jesus said that He had come to make man whole, a complete person. That is what you feel when you do Kriya and when you sing in a Satsang. Your energy becomes full and you feel total. You become whole. 

Then all your senses listen to you. You don't have to listen to them, you will feel much contentment, much peace and much joy. You will feel such elevation, and such completeness. That is the effect of pratyaahara. And with this we complete the Patanjali Yoga Sutras.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji 

PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS 

Day 91 

It is natural to obstruct the flow of breath in an asana. Patanjali said that it is obstructing the natural flow of your breath because it is not natural at all. You have made your breath very unnatural. 

So whatever you feel is natural, is not actually natural. We have to return to the natural way of breathing. We do this by gati, breaking its movement. We break its movement consciously by breathing deep, long and subtle, with counts and by keeping our attention on different parts of the body. 

In just one sutra, Patanjali has described all the pranayamas.

Breathe in, hold, breathe out and hold - with different counts and with attention on various parts of the body. That is all. Most of the pranayamas are there in one sentence; in one sutra. 

But there's one more pranayama, which happens automatically. When all the thoughts and ideas are cleared from the mind, there is a natural pranayama. It throws out all the impurities from the mind. That is the fourth pranayama. Patanjali said that pranayama should be learnt with proper guidance. 

It is not to be done on one's own and anywhere. The pranayama which happens all by itself and without any effort is the fourth pranayama. You go deep and the pranayama starts. It breaks the routine way of breathing. It assumes or forms its own rhythm. This is the fourth type of pranayam.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji 

PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS 

The other known names are melongen, garden egg, and guinea squash. Brinjal is native to India and a common man’s vegetable. India is the second largest producer of brinjal in the world, after China. India produces 83.47 lakh tonnes of brinjal and this accounts for 25 % of the world's brinjal production. 

Reference 

Surendra Parihar

Ex.Professor and Head.

Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute,

Pusa, 

New Delhi, 

India 110012

🫛🌿Winged bean is widely recognised by consumers and farmers in South Asia and South East Asia for its variety of uses and disease resistance. Winged bean is nutrient-rich and all parts of the plant are edible. The leaves can be eaten like spinach, flowers can be used in salads, tubers can be eaten raw or cooked, and seeds can be used in similar ways as the soybean. The winged bean is an underutilised species but has the potential to become a major multi-use food crop.

🫛🌿It is also known by many other common names like cigarillas, goa bean, four-angled bean, four-cornered bean, manila bean, princess bean, asparagus pea, and dragon bean.

References:

Wikipedia

Reference 

Plants of Singapore