Triple talaq judgement may relieve stress in women

Triple talaq judgement may relieve stress in women Dr KK Aggarwal Our Vedas tell us that every thought in our mind arises from the silent potential web of energized information or consciousness. This thought from the mind is then analyzed by the intellect and the personalized by the ego. It then leads to an action. Every action leads to a memory, which in turn leads to a desire and with this a cycle of action, memory and desire is set into motion. If the desire is fulfilled, it leads to action again and then desire again. Repeated fulfillment of desires leads to habit formation, addictions and development of a particular personality. Unfulfilled desires, on the other hand, lead to irritability and then to anger. Anger destroys peace of mind. It hampers the powers of discriminating between good and bad. Anger distorts intellect and fosters negative emotions. Loss of intellect leads to animal-like behavior and ultimately self-destruction. Anger can be expressive anger or suppressive anger. Expressive anger or anger outbursts manifest as aggressive behavior, violence, hostility and cynicism. Emotionally stressful events, including anger, may trigger the onset of acute heart attack, asthma, anxiety. Cynical hostility has been recognized as major risk factor for coronary artery disease. While, suppressed anger or chronic anger in due course of time may cause depression, despondency, behavioral changes, anxiety, acidity and diarrhea. However, anger is not always bad. Righteous or spiritual anger is a type of anger with good intentions. The classical example of righteous anger is when you become angry in a situation where you see a person doing something wrong to check that person. Righteous anger can make people stand up for their rights and fight against what is wrong. The story of a young Muslim woman who allegedly committed suicide after her son had been taken away from her, two weeks after being divorced through triple talaq was published earlier this year. Depression was reported to be the factor leading to this extreme step. (April 12, 2017. http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/apr/12/muslim-woman-divorced-through-triple-talaq-hangs-self-after-two-weeks-1592609.html). Many such women in the country are living in a similar chronic stage of fear and apprehension of being discarded by their husbands. They are vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and various psychomotor disorders. The historic verdict of the Supreme Court of India, abolishing the practice of triple talaq, will liberate women from such fears. Empowering them and giving women equal right in marriage will reduce the prevalence of acute and chronic mental disorders in them, most commonly depression. Stressful events such as psychological trauma, etc. may also trigger development of depression. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is now the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. More than 300 million people are now living with depression, an increase of more than 18% between 2005 and 2015. A person with depression is typically depicted as sad, lonely, having no interest in activities that they earlier enjoyed, too much or too little sleep, low self-esteem, hopelessness. But, depression can also present as anger, irritability, addictions, eating too much or not eating enough, persistent aches and pains, memory problems, fatigue, or other behavioral changes. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this write up are entirely my own.

Vedas and fertility

Vedas and fertility Infertility has been known from the Vedic era. Examples of fertility and assisted reproduction can be read in cases of King Dashrath, Ganesha, Kartikeya, Dhritarashtra, Vidur and Pandu etc. The three Shahi Snans mentioned in our Vedic literature are undertaken in the month of Magh, Vaishakh & Kartik (Vikram calendar) months. Shahi snan denotes exposure to sunlight to get Vitamin D. The rituals also involve eating the calcium-rich sesame seeds in a fasting state. Increase in both vitamin D and calcium are necessary to increase fertility. The main wedding season starts from Devuthan Ekadashi, Tulsi Vivah followed by Amala Navami. The seeds of Shyama Tulsi are known to increase the viscosity of semen and in women they help the release of eggs, a clomiphene-like action. Amla also increases sperm concentration. Pooja means dharam karam i.e. whatever we offer to God, we should also offer to ourselves (God is in me, the basis of Advaita philosophy). Indian doctors have been practicing Fallopian tube patency test or HSG (hysterosalpingography) for years. In this test, water or medicated oil dye is used to test and flush the fallopian tubes. It was noticed that post-HSG, the women showed improved fertility. Now, with the advent of CT, MRI and hysteroscopy, use of HSG has reduced, while the need for IVF has increased. Can we consider the use of vedic era methods and HSG to get better fertility results? Unfortunately, IUI, which was done by GPs, has gone in disrepute because of some unethical practices by so-called sadhus and saints and is now in the domain of IVF specialists only to the extent that it is now being covered under a separate Act. Dr KK Aggarwal National President IMA & HCFI

Marriage Rituals: The Basis of all Ethics

Marriage Rituals: The Basis of all Ethics Traditionally, marriage is the union of two souls and two families from similar or different cultures. Marriage can also be defined as union between two entities. The day you join your school, college, profession or business, you get married to that. The main Vedic ritual involved in any marriage as depicted in Vedas over 1000 years BC involved riding on a female horse called ghudchadi; bowing to each other in front of the society while garlanding each other called Varmala and finally taking four vows (circles around the holy fire) of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The female horse in Vedic philosophy denotes our uncontrolled sensory senses and a childlike behavior. Riding the female horse signifies leaving one’s childish behavior by tightening the reins of one’s senses to enter a new era. Bowing to each other in front of the community for varmala or garlanding reminds the bride and the groom to learn to live with humility. Mangal Phera or the steps of vows around Agni (fire of knowledge) is to earn righteously with a desire to fulfil inner happiness (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha). It teaches to take conscious- based decisions. The marriage with your profession similarly is to be practiced by controlling one’s senses, practicing humility, not indulging into corruption and by taking conscious-based decisions. Dr KK Aggarwal National President IMA & HCFI

Vedic Prescriptions

Vedic Prescriptions Chapter 1 - Know your dharma [Dharma the foundation of bioethics] Dharma is the path of righteousness and living one’s life as per the codes of conduct described in Vedas. Its western equivalents might include morality, ethics, virtue, righteousness and purity. The term dharma can best be explained as the “law of being” without which things cannot exist. The word dharma is derived from dhri, which means “to hold”. It literally means “that which holds” the people of this world and the whole creation. The same is described in the Vedic Text, in Atharva Veda as: Prithivim dharmana dhritam, that is, “this world is upheld by dharma”. In Hinduism Dharma is the very foundation of life. Tulsidas the author of Ramcharitmanas, defined the root of dharma as compassion. Buddha also used this principle in his book Dhammapada. According to Hindu philosophy, it’s the GOD which holds us through “Truth” and or “LOVE”. “Dharma prevails” or “truth prevails” is the essence of Hinduism. To achieve good karma, Vedas teaches us that one should live according to dharma (the right action). This involves doing what is right for the individual, the family, the class or caste and for the universe. As per Bhagavat Purana, righteous living or life on a dharmic path has four pillars: Truthfulness (satya), austerity (tap), purity (shauch) and compassion (daya). It further adds that the adharmic or unrighteous life has three vices: Pride (ahankar), contact (sangh), and intoxication (madya). Manusmriti, prescribes ten essential rules for the observance of dharma: Patience (dhriti), forgiveness (kshama), piety or self control (dama), honesty (asteya), sanctity (shauch), control of senses (indraiya-nigrah), reason (dhi), knowledge or learning (vidya), truthfulness (satya) and absence of anger (krodha). Manu further writes, “Non-violence, truth, non-coveting, purity of body and mind, control of senses are the essence of dharma”. In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says that in the society dharma is likely to fall from time to time and to bring dharma back; a GOD representative is born from time to time. The shlokas (parithraanaaya saadhoonaam vinaasaaya cha dhushkr.thaam|dharma-samsthaapanaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge’ yuge’ (Chapter IV - 8) says that “For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of evil-doers, and for establishing the rule of righteousness (Dharma), I am born from age to age [in every age]”. Another Shloka “ yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham” means that “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion - at that time I descend Myself”. Deepak Chopra in his book Seven Spiritual Laws of Success talks about the “Law of “Dharma” or Purpose in Life’”. According to Dr Chopra everybody should discover his or her divinity, find the unique talent and serve humanity with it. With this one can generate all the wealth that one wants. According to him when your creative expressions match the needs of your fellow humans, then wealth will spontaneously flow from the un-manifest into the manifest, from the realm of spirit to the world of form. In spiritual terms this is an attempt to find out whether his life is progressing as per the Laws of Dharma (Dharma in Sanskrit means ‘purpose in life’) which, according to the scriptures, is said to be the sole purpose for a human being to manifest in this physical form. To achieve one’ DHARMA Dr Chopra suggests the following exercises: 1. Today I will lovingly nurture the god or goddess in embryo that lies deep within my soul. I will pay attention to the spirit within me that animates both my body and my mind. I will awaken myself to this deep stillness within my heart. I will carry this consciousness of timeless, eternal being in the midst of time-bound experience. 2. I will make a list of my unique talents. Then I will list all of the things I love to do while expressing my unique talents. When I express my unique talents and use them in the service of humanity, I lose track of time and create abundance in my life as well as in the lives of others. 3. I will ask myself daily, “How can I serve?” and “How can I help?” The answers to these questions will allow me to help and serve my fellow human beings with love. Karma, dharma and samsara are three fundamental aspects of the Hinduism. Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism are all built on this. Dharma is one’s appropriate role or attributes. Karma, measures of how well one performs one’s dharma, explains why one is born where he or she is, why there is suffering and seeming injustices. Samsara, is the continuous round of birth, death and rebirth, and the context for all experience. Dharma sutras from Dharma Shãstras are the basic texts which talks about the morality of individuals and he society. Most India laws are made from these Shãstras. In Jainism, also the wheel of Dharma (Chakra) with 24 spokes represents the religion preached by the 24 Tirthankaras consisting of nonviolence (Ahimsa) and other virtues. The very first word of the Gita is “Dharma”. The Gita concludes with the word “Mama”. The whole of Bhagavad Gita is contained in the two words Mama and Dharma. When you join these two last words it becomes mamadharma, meaning your true Dharma. This is what the Gita teaches. What is your Dharma? How to achieve your dharma 1. Do unto others what you do unto yourself. Satisfy your conscience. That is your Dharma. 2. The word Living Dharma signifies the right action in every moment of the life. 3. Do not follow the dictates of body and do not indiscriminately follow the mind, for the mind is like a mad monkey. Follow the conscience. 4. Practice Random acts of kindness to inculcate the spirit of Dharma. 5. According to many Saints, to do dharma, includes eight-fold path and these are 1. Nonviolence; Control over the Senses; Compassion or daya; Forbearance or Khsma; Peace; Meditation; Penance or Tapas and Truth. 6. The Bhagavad Gita also starts with the phrase, “Dharmakshetre Kuruksetra” which means the battle of dharma and adharma. 7. In Mahabharata, when Duryodhana went to Gandhari, his mother, on the eve of the war, for her benediction. She blessed Duryodhana saying, “Victory will be there, where dharma is.”