newsletter of the bal sabha of columbia, mo summer 1999

Newsletter of the Bal Sabha of Columbia, MO Summer 1999 Issue

May 1999 Volume 2, Issue 2

EDITOR’S NOTE

THANK YOU This issue of Bal Sandesh has been made

possible through financial sponsorship from:

Days Inn/Travelodge Howard Johnson/Panda Pals

India’s Rasoi Taj Emporium

Welcome to another issue of Bal Sandesh, the newsletter of the youth group Bal Sabha. This issue includes many diverse submissions from Bal Sabha kids. It includes articles ranging from religion to school activities, as well as creative work such as poetry and pencil sketches. Three adult contributors have been invited to write articles for this issue – one a feature article, Ayurvedic Medicine, provides an excellent background on holistic medicine practiced in India since the ages. I would like to thank the kids and adult contributors for their support and willingness to share their work. I also would like to invite submissions for the next issue and to encourage feedback on previously published articles. New to

this issue is a column entitled Letters to the Editor, one which I would like to become a permanent addition. As many of you know, this Summer Edition of the Bal Sandesh is the last issue with which Gaurav Jashnani and I will be involved. We have both enjoyed working on the staff and wish the continuing member Ansuman Satpathy best of luck. We would also like to thank our parent advisors Vellore S. Gopalaratnam, Sandhya Sharma, and Shailesh Vengurlekar for their support and enthusiasm☯ Tara Chandrasekhar Senior, Hickman High School

Swami Vivekananda, the great religious leader and philosopher, was born on January 12, 1863 in Calcutta, India. In his childhood, Biley, as he was lovingly called, was bright and full of energy. Although his mother found him extremely restless and hard to control, he was not a bad boy. He was fascinated by the wandering monks who were so common in India, and would practice meditation for fun. As he grew older, he did very well in school and amazed his teachers. He always wanted to test the truth of what he was told. He would not believe anything just because someone said it was true.

Biley and his friends would often play on a big tree in a neighbor's house. Like all children, they made a lot of noise. The grandfather of the

house did not like the noise. One day he went out and shook his fist at Biley. "Don't climb that tree any more," he said. "Don't you know that it is haunted? There is a ghost in that tree, and it will grab you by the neck and kill you!" Biley quietly listened to the old man and said nothing in reply. But as soon as the man went back into the house, Biley began to climb the tree again. One of the boys said, "Oh Biley, don't climb the tree anymore. That ghost will catch you by the neck. Please come down Biley. Let's go home." Biley laughed and said, "Don't be a fool. You know how many times I have climbed this tree. If a ghost lived in it, it would have caught me a long time ago." When Biley grew up he always told people, "Have no fear! Ask questions and find out the truth for yourself. Never believe anything, unless you know it is true. Be strong and fearless!" Reference 'The story of Vivekananda' published by the Advaita Ashrama☯

Swami Vivekananda Sangita Sharma Second Grade Ridgeway Elementary School

Beautiful faded blurry colors, opening the door to a new day. The sky looks like a soaked light blue paper with fluffy soft white cotton spread out everywhere. Rain droplets have vanished after mixing with the dazzling sun light. A peaceful silence grows, as the curved arch spreads across the pleasant sky. Joy, happiness and excitement fill up every corner of my heart as this image in front of me gets painted☯

RAINBOW Meghna Srinath Fourth Grade Fairview Elementary School

2 Bal Sandesh Tri-Yearly Newsletter of the Bal Sabha of Columbia, MO

An incarnation is a manifestation of God on earth. Hindus believe that whenever the forces of evil begin to gain control of the world, Vishnu the great preserver leaves the heavens and descends to the earth in different forms to rescue mankind. Vishnu is said to have taken on ten incarnations but sometimes more than twenty-two forms are ascribed to him. Some of the forms are cosmic in character while some are based on historical events. It is interesting to note that the evolution of these incarnations from lower to higher forms of life is reflected in the evolution of mankind. Formerly Yagnas were the form of worshipping, and after that the worshipping of the gods began. The first gods are Indra, Varuna, and the sky. Then came Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha. The idol of this Trinity was made and placed in the temple for worship. The Trinity gave the stories of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. Of the ten incarnations (avataras), the most popular are Rama and Krishna

The ten different incarnations are illustrated as: 1) Matsya 2) Kurma 3) Varaha 4) Narasimha 5) Vamana 6) Parashurama 7) Rama 8) Krishna 9) Buddha 10) Kalki MATSYA AVATAR

In his first incarnation, Vishnu has the lower body of a fish (Matsya) and the upper part body of a man. He has four arms; with two he holds a conch-shell and a wheel, while the other two are holding a lotus or a mace, or are in the protection and boon giving postures.

There are several explanations as to why Vishnu assumed the form of the fish. One of them describes him as turning into a fish so as to be able to tow a ship in which Manu, the progenitor of the human race, had taken refuge from a devastating flood. The same story is f o u n d i n t h e Mahabharata where the fish is described as having a horn. In the Bhagvad-Purana the story is further elaborated by the addition of a fight between Matsya and

the demon Hayagriva, who had stolen the Vedas when Brahma was asleep. KURMA AVATAR

Vishnu in his second incarnation is in the form of half-man, half-tortoise (Kurma), the lower body being the tortoise. He is normally shown as having four arms. In the upper two he carries the conch-shell and the wheel while the lower two are in the protection and boon giving postures or carrying a mace and a lotus.

When the gods were in danger of losing their authority over the demons, Vishnu advised them to churn the ocean so that they might procure amri ta (ambrosia) which would make them s t r o n g a n d immortal. He p r o m i s e d t o become a tortoise on which would rest t h e m o u n t a i n Mandar, which was

used as the churning stick. Together with ambrosia, the churning

brought to the surface the other thirteen objects that had been lost in the deluge. They were Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu), Sura (goddess of wine), Chandra (the moon), Apsaras (celestial nymphs), Kaustabha (the precious gem for Vishnu’s body), Uchchaihshravas (the divine horse), Parijata (the wish granting coral tree), Surabhi (the cow that grants all desires), Airavata (the four-tusked elephant), Panchajanya (conch-shell) and Sharanga (the invincible bow). However, after more churning, the power of the ambrosia was almost neutralized by the appearance of its oppposite, halahala (poison). Shiva held this poison in his throat and saved mankind. The poison was so powerful that it turned Shiva’s throat blue, giving him the name “Neel-kantha” or the “blue-throated one”. The churning also brought out Dhanvantari (physician of the gods), carrying the pot of ambrosia (amrita) in his hands. VARAHA AVATAR

Varaha (the boar) is the third incarnation of Vishnu. Its images are divided into two main groups - those entirely in animal form and those having an animal’s head on a human body with four arms. As is with most of the Vishnu incarnations, two

hands hold the wheel and the conch-shell and the other two may hold a sword, a mace or a lotus, or they may be in the protection and boon giving modes.

Vishnu turned himself into a boar ( V a r a h a ) a n d descended to the bottom of the ocean to rescue the earth which had been abducted and hidden there by a demon. After a long struggle Vishnu (as the boar) slew the demon, rescued the earth, and brought it to the surface and made it ready to support life by modeling the mountains and shaping the continents. In this way the world was brought into being once again to begin another kalpa or cycle. The extrication of the world from the deluge of sin is symbolised by this legend and is a creation myth. NARASIMHA AVATAR

Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Vishnu, is in the form of half-man (Nara)and half-lion (Simha), having four hands. Two hands carry a wheel and a conch-shell and two are in the boon giving and protection modes or tearing at the stomach of the demon-king. Vishnu assumed this form in order to overcome a demon-king who could not be slain by a man nor by a beast, neither inside nor outside a palace, during the day nor the night. Adopting the form of a lion headed man, Vishnu approached the palace at dusk and hid himself in a pillar at the entrance, out of which he sprang and killed the demon-king, Hiranyakashipu. According to some scriptures the incident took place inside a pillar, while according to o t h e r s N a r a s i m h a p l a c e d t h e demon on his lap and tore out his entrails.

The symbolism here is of the l i o n - l i k e characteristics of f i e r c e n e s s , bravery, and i n d e p e n d e n c e that claim almost u n i v e r s a l admiration.

Dasha AvatarDasha Avatar Sagar VengurlekarSagar Vengurlekar

Third Grade, Ridgeway Elementary SchoolThird Grade, Ridgeway Elementary School

Tri-Yearly Newsletter of the Bal Sabha of Columbia, MO Bal Sandesh 3

VAMANA AVATAR The fifth incarnation of Vishnu, is usually

represented as a dwarf (Vamana) holding a water pot in one hand and an umbrella in other. He wears a ring of kusha grass on his third finger and occasionally carries a book. He has long hair, he wears ear ornaments and covers his body with a deer-skin or loin cloth. In his first four incarnations, Vishnu appears in either a animal form or in a half-human half-animal form. T h e l a t e r incarnations starting from Vamana are all in human form. The f i rst of them, Vamana, is perhaps significantly a dwarf, thus symbolizing the under developed stage of mankind.

The story behind Vamana concerns Bali, the great-grandson of Hiranayakshipu. Bali’s rule was so successful that his reputation began to overshadow that of Indra who was obliged to seek Vishnu’s help in order to regain his supremacy. Not wishing to use harsh measures against such a praiseworthy ruler, Vishnu resorted to a stratagem. He disguised himself as a dwarf and asked Bali to give him a piece of land equal to three paces wide on which he could sit and meditate. Bali granted the request and Vishnu then used his supernatural powers to take possession of heaven and earth in two steps thus depriving Bali of his kingdom.

But, in recognition of Bali’s generosity, Vishnu refrained from taking the third step and gaining the underworld as well but installed Bali as it’s monarch. The story of Vishnu’s dwarf is a creation myth symbolizing the power of Vishnu to cover the universe. PARASHURAMA AVATAR

Parashurama, is almost always shown with an axe in his right hand. He is also shown as having four hands carrying a battle axe, a sword, a bow and an arrow.

In this, his sixth incarnation, Vishnu appears for the first time in a complete human form but at the same t ime he maintains his status as a deity. As the story goes, Kshatriya king had stolen Parashurama’s father’s wish-granting-cow, Kamadhenu.

Parashurama took his revenge for the theft by killing the thousand-armed king. Vishnu took form of Parashurama, not only to get revenge but to rid the world of oppression by the Kings/Kshatriyas, which he did in the course of 21 battles. The story of this incarnation evidently points to a time in Indian history when there was a severe and prolonged struggle for power between the Kshatriyas and Bramhins.

The story behind the name concerns the sage’s son, Rama, a brilliant archer, who did his penance in the Himalayas to Shiva in gratitude for having this skill conferred on him. Shiva was pleased with his devotion and when fighting broke out between the Gods and the Demons, ordered Parashurasma to defeat the demons. Parashurama showed reluctance. Shiva then gave him reassurance and he managed to defeat the Demons. On completing the task, Shiva gave Parashurama many gifts and weapons, including a magnificent axe (Parashu) after which he was known as Parashurama (Rama with the axe). RAMA AVATAR

Rama or Ramachandra, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, is normally shown standing, having two arms, with one of which he holds a bow. He usually has his wife Sita by his right side, holding a blue lotus. His brother Lakshman, shorter than Rama, stands by his left side, holding a

b o w a n d a r r o w . Hanuman is usually shown kneeling a little in front and by Rama’s right. This incarnation whose task was to kill a ten-headed demon, Ravana, who held his wife captive, Ramachandra has deeply influenced the Indian psyche and has risen to be a deity whose life is a subject for l i terature and an example of moral excellence.

As the hero of the great epic of India, Ramayana, he has also passed into the mythology of countries other than India whose cultures have been influenced by it. Rama is also considered a savior and friend and is said to have the power of intercession for the dead. When a dead body is carried for cremation, the pall-bearers loudly repeat the words ‘Ram nam satya hai’ (Rama’s name is truth). Rama represents the qualities of fidelity, gentleness, and steadfastness. In the same way his wife Sita (incarnation of Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu), is regarded as the embodiment of all that is most admired

in Indian womanhood-faithfulness and affectionate compliance. They are looked upon as an example of constancy in marriage. KRISHNA AVATAR

Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, is considered the most important of the ten incarnations. He is usually shown as blue or black-skinned, having two hands, and playing the flute. In paintings he is shown standing on one leg with the other crossed in front, resting on his toes. He usually wears colorful garments and is richly ornamented. He may hold a conch-shell or a curved stick in his hand. By his side would be his consort Radha and usually some cows (he was born a cow-herd). In the paintings, he is shown as dancing with the cow-herds, girls (gopis), as a child eating butter, or as Arjuna’s charioteer addressing him in the battle field.

Vishnu manifested himself as Krishna so as to kill the evil king Kamsa. The king had been forewarned that the eighth child of Devki would kill him, so he imprisoned Devki and slaughtered her new-born babies one by one. The seventh child, Balrama, was saved by his kinsmen. When the eighth child was born, there was a big storm; the doors burst open, guards fell asleep and Vasudeva (Krishna’s father) walked out of the prison, taking the baby Krishna with him to Yashoda with whom he spent his childhood. This incarnation of Vishnu has accumulated a great variety of myths. Krishna shows all the aspects of human development usually associated with childhood, adolescent and adulthood. There are few stages in a mortal worshipper’s life, a counterpart of which can not be found somewhere in stories relating to the activities of Krishna. Although many of the stories about him concern his superhuman deeds, he also reveals human characteristics. The flute playing adds to the pastoral character of many of his stories and the effect it has on the Gopikas provides a rich source of speculation on its symbolism which is apparent in much poetry and in many dance forms, notably Kathakali in South India. BUDDHA AVATAR

Buddha, the ninth incarnation of Vishnu, appears at the start of the present age. He has short curly hair and his feet and palms have the mark of the lotus. Calm and


graceful in appearance, he is seated on a lotus flower. The lobes of his ears are shaped like a pendant and he is shown wearing a yellow robe. The hands are in a boon giving and protection mode.

This incarnation is symbolic of the uneasiness that the Hindu priests fe l t fo r the Buddhists and their teachings w h i c h w e r e becoming very popular with the masses. The Bhagwat-Purana says that ‘as Buddha, Vishnu deludes the heretics’. As Buddha, Vishnu advised the demons to abandon the vedas, where upon lost all

their powers and enabled the Gods to establish their supremacy. The doctrines supposedly put forward by Buddha are far removed from Buddha’s teachings as understood by his followers. Ironically, the Buddhists did in some sense turn to Hindu belief. The mythology and cosmology that became attached to Buddhism as it became a popular mass religion were rooted in Hindu belief and the Hindu Gods inhabited some of the lower heavens of the Buddhist cosmos. KALKI AVATAR

Kalki, the future and the last incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu, will appear at the end of the present age (Kali-yuga), when moral excellence will no longer exist, the rule of law will disappear and all will be darkness. Kalki will then ride forth on a horse, blazing

like a comet and save the mankind reestablish Dharma or Righteousness. Kalki will usher in the Golden Age, a new era of purity and peace and then return to heaven.

In some text Kalki is described as riding a white horse and holding a flaming sword. In others, he is described as being four-armed, holding a sword, a conch-shell, a wheel and an arrow. In still others, he is described as a horse headed man carrying a club instead of an arrow. When riding a horse, he sometimes carries a bow and arrow☯

PHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERY

Bal Sabha children entertain the audience at the 1999 Republic Day celebrations

and at Pongal/Sankranti 1999


Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word, derived from two roots: ayur, which means life, and veda, knowledge. Knowledge arranged systematically with logic becomes science. In due course of time, Ayurveda became the science of life. Life, according to Ayurveda, is a combination of senses, mind, body and soul. It has its root in ancient vedic literature and encompasses our entire life, the body, mind and spirit. Despite achieving great success in amassing materialistic wealth, why is it that most of us are unhappy? There is unrest, anxiety, mental tension, fighting and terror everywhere. This is because some part of our body is not being nourished properly. And that is our inner self or the soul. There must be a proper balance between materialism and spiritualism. Ayurveda practices the theory of balance. According to Ayurveda health is the state of balance and disease is the state of imbalance. The aim of Ayurveda is to give complete health and not just getting free from physical diseases. Ayurveda aims at making a happy, healthy and peaceful society. Two of the most important aims of Ayurveda are: ã To maintain the health of the society. ã To cure the diseases of sick people

The word health here does not mean physical health only but also spiritual and mental health. Problems like depression, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia mainly originate from sick mind and soul. Our actions, foods and life styles, that we follow to get happiness and pleasure may not be healthy to our mind and soul. No wonder, we are unhappy and not at peace. The mind and the soul require as much attention as does our body. Our habits or emotions like anger, greed, passion, attachment, jealousy, not caring for other creatures, not speaking the truth, creating problems for others, not respecting elders, narrow-mindedness and being selfish, are unhealthy for the mind. We may not realize this but they are the cause of most of our mental problems. Ayurveda helps understand each individual at a very subtle personal level and prescribes a detailed description about diet, daily routine, life-style, actions and activities to be followed. It teaches

how to live in a society and in the universe without disturbing the natural balance. Here is a more detailed definition of Ayurveda as found in the Charak Samhita (an authoritative textbook on Ayurveda), which says: Ayurveda is a science that describes ã Advantageous and disadvantageous

states of life ã Happy and unhappy states of life ã What is good or bad for life ã The span of life.

When did Ayurveda originate? Ayurveda is as old as humanity. Ayurveda believes that life is eternal. It does not belong to any particular country, religion or civilization. It does not belong to any particular period of history. The eternity of Ayurveda is also described in the Charak Samhita. It says that Ayurveda is eternal because of the following reasons: ã It has no documented beginning. ã It deals with things that are inherent in

nature. ã Such natural manifestations are

eternal. Based on several facts and proofs, scholars of Ayurveda, and ancient literatures, it is suggested that the Ayurveda originated before or around 6000 B.C. Basic Principles of Ayurveda The universe is composed of five elements. The human body is also made

up of the five elements and the soul. These five elements are: ã Prithvi or earth. ã Apa or water. ã Tejas or fire ã Vayu or air ã Akash or space.

These five elements are the basic constituents and every thing can be explained in terms of these five elements. For example, the bulky and solid part is the earth, the digestive enzymes, which are responsible for digestion, are the fire, and the hollow empty belly is the space. These five elements in their biological form in the living body cause three different kinds of influences. These are the three primary life forces or three biological humors. The Ayurvedic term for these forces is Dosha. As they are three in number they are called as Tridosha. In Sanskrit they are known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha. ã Dhatus - These are the basic tissues

that maintain and nourish the body. They are seven in number – chyle, blood, muscles, fatty tissue, bone, marrow and semen. Proper amount of each dhatu and its balanced function is very important for good health.

ã Mala – These are the waste materials produced as a result of the metabolic activities in the body. They are urine, feces, sweat etc. Proper elimination of malas is equally important for good health. Accumulation of malas is a disease state.

ã Srotas - These are the different channels that transport food, dhatus, malas and doshas. Proper functioning of srotas is necessary for transporting different materials to the site of their utilization. Blockage of srotas causes diseases.

ã Agni – These are the different types of enzymes for digestion and metabolism.

Good Health To stay healthy, one should live in harmony with nature without disturbing the natural balance. To live in a natural balance one has to understand self. According to Ayurveda every individual has a different constitution. The distinct

This feature article was invited by the Editors in the interest of Bal Sandesh readers. Invited articles of potential interest to Bal Sabha memberships will be a regular Feature of Bal Sandesh. If you have ideas for topics, and/or authors, please pass them on to the Editors

Ramesh Khanna, M.D.


Ayurvedic constitution dictates individual’s diet, life style, daily routine and other activities. To maintain good health and also to cure diseases, it is imperative to know the distinctive Ayurvedic constitution. Food-related factors that promote good health ã Food should be fresh, hot, usually

cooked, tasty and easy to digest. ã There should be at least four hours

difference between two meals. ã Many items should not be eaten in one

meal. The items eaten during one meal should not adversely interfere with one another. For example, ice cream and hot coffee.

ã Feeling tired or heaviness in stomach after eating is improper eating.

ã While eating avoid distractions, i.e. watching television or reading etc. Eat in peaceful and pleasant surroundings.

ã Eating should not be rushed or too slow. Chew the food properly.

ã Fruits should not be mixed with meals. Either take a separate serving of fruits or eat between two meals.

ã Do not drink water one hour before or after the meals to avoid dilution of digestive juices.

Proper regulated sleep is equally important to maintain the balance of bodily functions. Early to bed and early to rise is the key to good health. For an average person six hours of sleep is sufficient. Sleeping longer invites laziness and is a cause of disease. Regular exercise according to the distinct constitution is very beneficial for good health. Yoga is advised as the best type of exercise as it takes care of the physical, mental and spiritual health. Yoga and Ayurveda go hand in hand. Toxins (malas) accumulate in the body as a result of the metabolic activities. Elimination of these toxins from the body is essential. When toxins accumulate beyond certain safe limits, disease will ensue. To maintain proper bodily functions and to stay healthy regular elimination of these toxins is required. Ayurveda prescribes an elimination therapy called Panch Karma. Another important factor for maintaining good health and staying active even in old age is called rejuvenation therapy. A healthy person should take rejuvenating preparations to maintain good health and stay young. There are many such Ayurvedic preparations available that can be taken according to the season and the individual constitution. General Diseases The state of balance or equilibrium between the three doshas in the body is called the health and the state of imbalance or disequilibrium is the disease. The

imbalance may be due to an increase or decrease in one, two or all the three doshas. For example, an excess of vata causes arthritis and the pitta causes hyperacidity, ulcer and liver disorders. Factors that create an imbalance (increase or decrease) of the doshas internally or externally, directly or indirectly, produce symptoms of diseases. The causative factors can be foods, life-style changes or other activities.

The majority of foods and activities we are accustomed to in the modern world are believed to create imbalance between the doshas. They are discussed briefly below: Factors responsible for increasing vata: ã Eating too much cabbage, cauliflower,

broccoli, sprouts, beans, dry fruits, mushrooms and raw foods.

ã Too much traveling by any means of transportation.

ã Staying awake till late night or not sleeping at all.

ã Eating of junk food, frozen foods and food that has been microwaved.

ã Excessive exposure to high noise level or high sounds.

ã Watching too much television and over exposure to computers or any other kind of electric gadgets from which strong waves are emitted.

ã Indulging in too much sexual activity. ã Excessive imagination, overworking or

too much sports. ã Taking too much medicinal,

recreational and stimulant drugs. Activities that involve excessive competition, habits like drinking too much tea, coffee, alcohol and smoking increase pitta in the body. It is also increased by eating hot, spicy foods, excessive intake of tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, onions and by too much exposure to heat and sun.

Some of the symptoms caused by excess of pitta in the body are hyperacidity, skin diseases, heartburn, fever, infections, ulcers and liver disorders. Similarly, eating too much sugar, fat, oily and fried food, ice cream, meat, dairy products and nuts, too much sleep especially during the day time and not doing much physical activities increase kapha in the body. Some of the symptoms caused by excess of kapha in the body are asthma, cough, cold, congestion in the chest, anorexia and obesity. Diagnosis and Treatment Thus, every aspect of our life can be related the three doshas. Balancing the three doshas avoids many serious problems and leads to healthy life. The treatment according to Ayurveda is to balance the tridoshas. Diagnosis in the Ayurvedic system involves assessment of the dosha that is out of balance and therapy attempts to balance it by prescribing natural medicines, and appropriate diet and life-style. The root cause of a disease is not always inside the body. The cause may be outside the body. A problem in the family relations or a work place related stress can lead to tridosha imbalance. The permanent relief requires that the root cause be removed. When a disease is cured according to Ayurveda tradition, not only the physical symptom is relived, the person as a whole is treated. Detailed history and patient examinations are mandatory to find the root cause of a disease. One of them is pulse examination. By checking the pulse, the Ayurvedic physician can find the position of Tridosha. The dosha that is aggravated or out of balance is brought under balance by using different kinds of therapies. The mental situation, family relations and other outside factors are thoroughly examined. The root cause of a disease need not always be physical. Ayurvedic treatment does not believe in symptomatic treatment, rather, the removal of the root cause to give a permanent relief. Symptomatic relief by medicine invariably creates new problems as a side effect of the main treatment. The treatment mainly comprises of powders, tablets, decoctions, medicated oils etc. These are prepared from natural herbs, plants and minerals. Medicines from natural sources are accepted and assimilated in the body without creating any side effects. Besides medicine, great emphasis is put on adherence to constitution, specific life style and dietary intake. Panch Karma therapy is also used as a treatment in many diseases. Ayurvedic methods of diagnosis and treatments are based on simple and natural

Tri- Bal Sandesh

principles. To conclude we can say that, teaches a very systematic and

scientific way of life that balances both

Fundamental principles, health rules, knowledge of individual constitution of the

arious herbs, minerals and specially therapy can be safely used to promote good health,

longevity.

Mental Constitution Vedic philosophy classifies human

satvic rajasic . These

moral dispositions and their reactions to environments

Ayurveda Satvicqualities that imply perceptionconsciousness, purity and clarity. These

happiness. All movements and activities a person leads to a life of sensual

restlessness. is darkness, inertheaviness and materialistic attitudes.

constant interplay

gunasin an individual

ciousness.

predominance of , or

i s

make up. The smade up of five elements, but the

by the three biologiair together constitute the , fire and

pittakapha. the psycho biological

-Vata, pitta,

are present in evorgan. In every person they differ in

Ayurveda, en

- vata, pittakapha vata pitta,

- - ) and equal types( , and in equal

combination of these three . To d individual constitution is the

Ayurveda,

Prakruti, Individual Constitu conception by the three and kapha ique

determined by the dominence of doshas. -

temgenetic in origin. The male seed, sperm,

the constittime of conjugation, the dominant factor of

in the sperm (predominance of a or kapha

weaker or exaggerate the similar attributes prakruti

sper vatainhibit some of the characteristics in the

kapharough, vatasuppress the oily, heavy, smooth, and

kapha. Vata kaphaare both cold. Texaggerated in the of the fetus.

vatakapha If both parents are of

constitution, the offspring will inherit a predominant constitution. The

parents and therefore of

country, climate, and emotions.

, the Disease Pr recognizes the three ,

vata, pitta kaphaseven , or tissues, plasma, blood,

three , or wastes; feces, urine and agni

any of these factors. The root cause of

do , - - , caused by a wide

According to the attributes of these

humors begin to accumulate at their Vata

in the pitta kaphacontinues, the accumulated reaches

overflow in the original site and

aggravated then enters and creates ific weak tissue where

organ or system.

at affect the

Disease can result from

unresolved anger, fear, anxiety, grief or doshas

Ayurveda causative factors in disease processes:

l, internal, external,

habits and supernatural factors. Disease suse, overuse and

-sight, taste and smell. The disease itself

can be described by the number of involved, the specific tissues effected, the

aggravated the doshadisease is primary or secondary, strength, and the length of time of the disease. Chikitsa isease Management Ayurvedamust understand the exact quality, nature and structure of disease, dimbalance. The body has its own intelligence to create balance and the

There are four main classifications of management of disease in shodan, or cleansing; shaman or palliationrasayana satvajaya or

.

Ayurveda and Relationships Ayurveda, our life is a

t h e relationship between you

parents and children. Equally important is the

your relationship between

consciousness, and the i n n e r r e l a t i o n s h i p

vata- -kapharelationships are life, and Ayurvedahealing art that helps bring clarity in relationship. Clarity in relationships bringscompassion, and compassion is love, therefore love is clarity. Without the clarity

Ayurveda is an art ofinsight that brings harmony, happiness, joy and bliss in our daily life, in our

Ayurveda, can definitely bring longevity to

such that one can get insight to deal with

one’s inner hurt, grief and sadness. Ayurveda

ences used to compile this article: Kaviraj Pratap S. Chauhan, Jiva

Charak Samhita (Text wtranslation by P.V. Sharma),

ã Ayuervedic Institute, 11311

Menaul N.E., Albuquerque, NM☯

Interesting Internet Links Ayurvedic Internet Resources www.holisticmed.com/www/ayurvedic.html American Institute Of Vedic Studies www.vedanet.com/healingcourse.htm Ayurvedic Foundation www.ayur.com Ayurvedic Institute www.ayurveda.com


BRIDGES Aditya Srinath

Sixth Grade, Smithton Middle School

Brooklyn Bridge, New York Golden Gate Bridge, California

PHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERYPHOTO GALLERY

Bal Sabha members participate in Ugadi 99 celebrations. Some

dancers from the 1999 Saraswati Bandana also performed at area

elementary schools in early spring.

The colors of the Indian flag are as follows:

Saffron (top stripe) represents courage and sacrifice

White (middle stripe) represents truth and peace

Green (bottom stripe) represents faith, fertility and chivalry

The emblem in the center was added upon independence in 1947. It is a Buddhist “Dharma Chakra” or the “wheel of life”☯

Indian Flag Arjun Khurana Kindergarten Ridgeway Elementary School


Once upon a time, long ago, there was a fierce fight between Gods and demons. The Gods lost and the demons won. Gods met with OM and requested him to lead them. "What is in it for me?" asked OM. "Whatever you demand" replied the Gods. "No Vedic prayer shall be recited without placing me first." said OM. Gods said "OM" in approval. OM took it lightly. Yet he scored a victory for Gods. The demons gathered their forces and attacked the Gods once again. Indra, the King of requested OM to win the war for Gods. "What will be my reward?" queried OM. “You are now our Supreme Commander. You will be respected and will receive honor and praise from all." OM exerted a little more this time around. The demons had to run away. The demons attacked a third time. Indra requested OM to lead Gods to victory once again. "What do I get?" asked OM. “You will be honored as the greatest of all, the highest of all, the most superior power."--This time OM came out in his full form. He crushed the demons completely. They were reduced to dust. They got scattered. They were gone for ever--never, ever to come back again. Peace was restored. The world was happy. OM became so great, highly honored and universally respected that he was invited to foreign countries, near and far. Riding the "vehicle" of

Buddhism he went to Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, and many other Asian countries. He got settled there permanently and brought the people to peace, progress, and prosperity. He became an ornament to Buddha's hairdress, shining as the apex. People wore him in rings. He took many forms, shapes and sizes. King of Cambodia wore him in his coat of arms and decreed his Royal Orders as OMKARA. A question arises: OM was only one! How could he accomplish all these wonders in so many countries at the same time? The answer is: OM is all. All is OM. There is nothing in this world and beyond too that is not OM. He existed in the past. He exists at present. He will continue to exist in the future. He possesses extra-ordinary divine power. He is everywhere. He knows everything. OM indeed is the Eternal Brahman. Truly is OM the Supreme Power. Knowledge of this powerful syllable, one get all that is desired. OM is the Universal God, the Eternal One. All Indian religions award him the foremost place and regard him as the greatest one with honor and

respect. Swami Vivekananda advocated that all countries in the world adopt OM as the name of their Gods. He recommended that OM temples be built as common prayer halls for all the religions. Swami Rama Tirtha too worked for the same ideal idea. When we have offered our prayer to OM, we have prayed to all the Gods and Goddesses because in him reside all. OM is one syllable, but is composed of three sounds (a+u+m) signifying the trinity of Indian Gods (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva); creation, sustenance, and dissolution; earth, sky and heaven; Rig, Yajus, and Sama (Vedas); holy fires; and the triad of waking, dream, and sleep. OM is the beloved name of the Brahman, the Universal Supreme Soul. Exactly like a dollar (coin) It has four quarters, the fourth being above and beyond the earlier three. It cannot be grasped by out bodily sense organs such as eyes, and ears. Only yogis, the realized souls, experience it in their hearts through deep intense meditation on OM. Thus OM is a means as well as the end. Just like Shri and Ganesh, OM makes a beginning holy and auspicious. Obstacle are removed. Success is guaranteed. OM appears in the beginning, middle and end of books. A child begins his studies by first uttering OM. OM means Yes, Agreed, Approved, and So be it. We can all use OM effectively in place of “okay“☯

The Glory of OM: A Divine Story Murari Lal Nagar, Ph.D.

INDIAN CITIESINDIAN CITIES Vellore S. ArthiVellore S. Arthi Sixth Grade, Smithton Middle SchoolSixth Grade, Smithton Middle School

See if you can solve the crossword puzzle comprising of Indian cities – Answers on Page 10 Across 1. A city in the picturesque northernmost state 4. Capital city sans New 5. East India Co. had its base in this southern city 6. Holy city in the mountains of Uttar Pradesh 8. A cup of tea anyone? 12. The pink city of India 13. A popular hill resort

15. Patliputra was its ancient name 18. India’s Silicon Valley 19. The Portuguese ruled in this port city 20. The “City of Joy” Down 2. Where the Palace on the Lake serves as hotel 3. A city in Uttar Pradesh 6. The Nizam ruled here 7. The Gateway of India on the west 9. Host to Emperor Shah Jahan’s monument 10. The palace here is grandly lit for Dussera 11. Textile city in Gujarat 14. Kozhikode is its other name 16. Buddhist fresco paintings found in the caves here 17. This city in Rajasthan is famous for it sarees

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Sadvidya can be translated as "proper education". When we say proper education, our understanding is present day schooling where we are trained for a living. However this word sadvidya has a different meaning. This meaning is explained in our scriptures called vedas by great sages. In the vedas, many of the truths are narrated as stories. If we believe that all the universe is the result of God's creation,

then we are all his children. As children, it is our duty to live up to the expectations of our parents and make them happy. So if we are all children of God, we also have to make Him happy. How is this possible? We have this physical body with life. We call this "life" in the physical body as soul. When someone is carrying a load on his back, we can recognize that he is carrying a weight. When the person rests the weight for a moment, he feels light or rested during that period. He feels relieved of the weight and feels happy. But when a soul is carrying weight, you can feel it even though you cannot see it. So in order for the soul to feel happy, it has to get rid of the weight or load. This is made possible through understanding God and making Him happy. In the story that follows, we will come to understand the meaning of this. Long ago, there was a learned and scholarly sage. His name was Aaruni. Since the time of his forefathers his family had nurtured many great scholars. Very late in life he was blessed with a son whom he named Svethakethu. In the olden days, children were sent to gurukula (a type of school) at the age of seven. They would stay at the teacher's

home, serve the teacher and get educated. However Aaruni did not send his son to gurukula at seven. Svethakethu stayed home and his behavior was that of a pampered child. This attracted comments from their neighbors. As a result, sage Aaruni decided to send Svethakethu to a gurukula. By that time, Svethakethu was twelve years old. For twelve years Svethakethu learned a lot, became a scholar and then returned home. While talking to his son after his return, Aaruni realized that his son did not show the obedience of a learned person. A learned person is complete and behaves like the fluid in a completely filled pot. When a pot is half-filled, the fluid is unsteady. So the father decided to teach him obedience. He called him and asked him what he had learned. Svethakethu replied that he had learned everything. Aaruni then asked the son whether he had learned about "aadesam". Svethakethu replied that his teacher did not talk about aadesam. So he asked his father to explain aadesam to him. This is what the sage explained to his son. In a general sense, aadesam means giving an order or it can also be described as the person who gives an order and further knowing about him. According to the vedas, this means knowing about God, who commands the whole universe. If one knows about God, one will know about everything. How is it possible? If one knows what is at the root, one can know everything. Consider the example of a clay pot or toys made of clay. All of these items are made of clay. They are just shaped differently and serve different purposes. So when you say clay, all these items come to mind. Similarly, when you think of gold, the different ornaments made from gold and the different parts of the body which they adorn come to mind. However we know that these are living and non-living things. Non-living things give rise to non-living things, in other words, we can create non-living things from non-living things. However, when you look at the universe, God's creation, has both living and non-living things. If you can understand and know about Him, it means you have learned about everything just like the examples we have talked of earlier about clay and gold. So one who learns about God and mends his life to please Him, will be able to make his soul lighter. This is Sadvidya☯

Sadvidya Jagan Kandala, Ph.D.

Answers to the Indian Cities crossword puzzle

There are many different types of Indian classical dances. These are Kathak, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Manipuri. Kathak began in temples of India, and soon moved to courts where the kings and nobles lived. The people who performed Kathak were called Kathakars. Kathakars mean story-tellers. They told stories of Lord Krishna’s mischief. There are three main types of Kathak gharanas (families). They are Benaras gharana, Jaipur gharana, and Lucknow gharana. Kathak has been strongly influenced by Hindu and Muslim traditions. This can also be seen in salami. Salami means greetings. The namashkar is from Hindu tradition, whereas the adab is from the Muslim tradition. You may have seen the angrakha in the Muslim tradition or the lehenga from the Hindu tradition. These are the dresses dancers use when they perform Kathak☯

KATHAK DANCE OF INDIAKATHAK DANCE OF INDIA Ahona Chatterjee

First Grade Ridgeway Elementary School

1J A M M 2U 3M4D E L H I EA E

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8D 9A R J E E L I N G M10M 11A G R BY H R 12J A I P U R A

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Dear Editor: The article was well written except for some misinformation and missing information. Regarding its origin, Bal Sabha did not exist until I started it in November 1986. It’s first meeting was held at my house in which several interested families were invited to discuss the organization of children’s group meetings. In this meeting Asha Shukla gave the name “Bal Sabha” to the group. The overall goal was to provide children a monthly forum to learn about India. It included among other topics, cultural heritage & diversity, history, geography, religions, constitution, famous people and places etc. In later years we also had yearly themes eg. Cities of India, monuments etc. It was open to any “interested” family. I must mention that the enthusiasm of children and parents was boundless. Various other activities of the group have already been described in the January 1999 issue of Bal Sandesh. In December 1993 I handed over (with some persuasion) responsibilities for Bal Sabha coordination to Mrs. Leela Jashnani which she continued in subsequent years with great efficiency. It gives me pride and pleasure that the children’s association is growing well. Publication of the Bal Sandesh is particularly an important dimension given by the new members of the Bal Sabha and I send congratulations for this task which we envisioned to do from year one but never did it. The Bal Sabha of Columbia has an important mission for children of families from India and I am confident that it will always be on the path of success. Shivendra D. Shukla

Dear Editor: I enjoyed reading the last issue of Bal Sandesh. It is heartening to see the children of Indian origin making deep commitments in the publication of this periodical. It is even more gratifying to see the Bal Sabha thriving and expanding in its scope. There are not many original members active in the Bal Sabha today. Nevertheless, as it’s one of the original members, I would like to emphasize the important contributions of Shukla family in the genesis and growth of Bal Sabha. Dr. Shivendra Shukla, having had prior experience of organizing and running two children’s group in the UK and San Antonio, Texas, on arrival to Columbia quickly organized the existing informal children’s group into a very cohesive and educational organization to which Asha Shukla suggested the name of Bal Sabha. With the help from other members, he framed the rules and regulations of the club. For the next decade, under Dr. Shukla’s leadership, the Bal Sabha blossomed into a vibrant club. Shuklas, guided the group to participate in the activities of the Cultural Association of India, an active India organization of the University of Missouri. Bal Sabha children actively took part in the celebration of India Festival in 1987. The Key to the success of the club was the total involvement and commitment to the cause by the families of Viswanath, Shukla, Shah, Gopal Krishna, Khanna, Guntaka, Kandala, Chowdhary and Nagar. Ramesh Khanna

Letters to the Editor

If you’re looking for an extracurricular activity, Science Olympiad may be just the thing. It’s available for students in grades 6-12 and is a great opportunity to experience participating in a competition. Each school that participates in Science Olympiad has a team that consists of no more than 15 students and 1-2 coaches. There are two divisions in Science Olympiad, C and B. The C division is for high schools and has a different set of events than the division B for middle schools and junior highs. There are a variety of events ranging from anything like building airplane models to solving crimes in a forensic lab. The competition levels start at Regional and advance to State and finally to Nationals, but the competition can be very intense. The important thing isn’t to win, but to have fun and learn from your mistakes, although placing first in some events may gain you scholarships (it you’re in the C division). For example, in the state level for division C, there is a scholarship available for the team that places first in an event called Water Quality that deals with biology.

Another benefit of Science Olympiad is that kids can express their ideas in their own way because coaches are prohibited from working with the team. Coaches are just for consulting and guidance, so team members work together to win. Science Olympiad takes a lot of time and effort, but as you know, hard work pays off☯

Science Olympiad Pranita Katwa Eighth Grade West Junior High School


Bal Sandesh needs your help! We welcome submissions of all types (reports, poetry, short stories, artwork, puzzles, jokes etc.). Work can be

submitted to the Editor or the Parent Advisors (contact addresses and phone numbers provided below). We prefer electronic version of the submission (e-mail or diskette). Artwork can be submitted on paper. Older kids interested in

volunteering to serve on the editorial/production team should contact the Editorial Staff or the Parent Advisors.

Editorial Staff Phone E-Mail Tara Chandrasekhar 446-6143 [email protected] Graurav Jashnani Ansu Satpathy Parent Advisors Vellore S. Gopalaratnam 446-0663 [email protected] Sandhya Sharma 875-4162 [email protected] Shailesh Vengurlekar 445-4391 [email protected]

Published Tri-Yearly Republic Day Issue– January Summer Issue – May India Nite Issue (Fall, Section of India Nite Booklet)

I have thought of the friends of the community who are essential for our high quality of life. Following are some of them that I wanted to mention. Doctors Doctors do their best to try to cure people's illnesses. We cannot measure the extent of their services. People live longer lives because of doctors. Police Officers Police officers work day and night. They hardly ever get rest. They enforce laws and make sure that they are obeyed. They catch criminals. Their most important priority is to keep people safe. People do not have to be scared of the Police unless they do something wrong. Postal Workers Postal workers help deliver mail to everyone. They bring a lot of joy to people everywhere. Fire Fighters Fire fighters always come when there is a fire and save lives and property. They risk their lives while carrying out their duties.

Teachers Teachers are very important because they educate us. Though underpa id , they cont r ibu te immensely to the betterment of all of our lives. Janitors Janitors clean up schools, public places and streets. They recycle many of the materials. They help make the town a better and cleaner place. School Bus Drivers School bus drivers are responsible for the safe travel of school children to and from the school. The bus drivers maintain the buses on schedule so that the students get to school and return home on time. We should be ever grateful to all these friends of the community for their service.

Friends of the Community Suresh Mohan Fifth Grade Russel Boulevard Elementary School

Building is fun, building is cool, It's one of my favorite things to do. I build bridges, I build cars. I build airplanes, I build stars. I build Jupiter, I build Mars. I even build czars. I build stations, I build trains. I build runways, I build planes. I build tractors, I build cranes. I build wheelchairs, I build canes. I build doors, I build windowpanes. I build arms, I build peoples veins. I build buildings, I build bowling

lanes. I build mountains, I build the Ne-

braska Plains. I build heads, I build brains. I even build when it rains. I build tables, I build chairs. I build peaches, I build pears. I build wigs, I build hair. I build everything with care. Building is what I do for fun, Instead of going to the park to run. Building is fun, building is cool, It's a better thing to do then watch

the dog drool. Wait, what's that, I think I hear the

phone ring. Well, I got to go, so see you when

the birds sing.

Things I BuildThings I Build Prashant Katwa Sixth Grade Smithton Middle School

newsletter of the bal sabha of columbia, mo summer 1999

Documents