OSA's News Letter: WELLNESS

I HAVE BEEN TRYING BRING A MONTHLY BULLETIN ON HEALTH & WEALTH SINCE 2012 TO BRING OUT THE FIRST ISSUE ON 1st JANUARY 2013,

FINALLY THIS YEAR STARTED WITH BRIEF INTRODUCTION.

Which one is good for health asanas or exercises?

Prof. K. S. Iyer

Today, we see people are crowding at Gym and put long hours of workout. Are these people health conscious people? In a way yes, but I have my own doubts, when I come across the report of religious Gym goers collapsed on the street while in morning walk, while chasing the ball in the football ground or while performing rigorous physical activity. No doubt, exercise is a component of Yogic way of living, i.e., Aahar – our diet, Vihar – our activities and the Nidra – our relaxation, (both in deep sleep at delta stage or in Savasana or in Yoga Nidra).

Yoga asana is set of physical postures that are done in a systematic manner to ensure good health with equilibrium of the mind, body and the soul. Yoga asana should be performed following the principles given by Maharishi Patanjali and following the techniques detailed in Hatha Yoga literatures, Hatha Yoga Prdeepika by Swatmaram Suri is one of them.

Asana deals with the spiritual, mental and physical aspects of the human life that the person is healthy not only from outside but also from inner self. Yoga asana involves slow and steady movements integrating organs and mind with the smooth breath that will not make us exhausted. Instead we feel refreshed and satisfied. The asana postures are classified into three categories:

Meditative asana: these are done during meditative practices.

Balancing asana: these help us in achieving peace and balance to mind.

Strengthening asana: these help to enhance strength of muscles & nerves thus physical power.

Ø  Asana help in improving the balance, flexibility, strength, agility, vitality, and longevity of a person.

Ø  It helps in maintaining holistic health and managing various disorders.

Ø  Continuous practice of asana enables to regulate our breathing process, thereby enable us to get maximum oxygen to our body to enhance its vital energy, cleaning the Pranamaya kosha and making it transparent and energized.

Ø  Improved breathing helps in getting maximum quantity of oxygenated blood, which enriches every cell of the body that every tissue is repaired, every organ becomes strong and their functioning become most efficient. Every gland secretes optimal hormone, most improved circulatory system enable all the capillaries to carry blood smoothly and a unobstructed network of nervous system communicate between brain and the rest of the parts of the body.

The final outcome is the holistic health with improved physical strength, good memory, absolute calmness, wellness, alertness and achieves a positive attitude.

Yogic practices are for everyone there is no bar on age, sex, body condition, caste or religion. Yet, to perform an asana in a traditional way we need a smooth, supple and flexible body. Our incorrect way of living for years has amassed layers of flesh all over the body, corrupted our mind and there is complete disjoint between living and supreme bodies that spiritualism has reduced to rituals. To tune body to derive the maximum benefits of Yoga Suryanamaskar and exercises are most desirable form of activities.

Physical exercise is the activity of the body that deals with the physical fitness and physical growth & development of the body. This is done to develop muscles, improve physical skills, enhancing immune system, managing body disorders like diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and reducing the weight in obese individuals and managing the ideal body weight.

There are three categories of exercise which enhance the flexibility, strength and endurance of the body parts, these are as follows:

Stretching exercise to improve flexibility and to tone the muscles;

Aerobic exercise to improve the endurance of respiratory and cardiovascular system

Strengthening exercise are Anaerobic and done to improve muscle & nerve strength.

Thus regular exercise burns calories and fat, helps in maintaining right weight, improving the bone densities and healthy functioning of body parts.

To sum up, the Yoga asana are involved in improving the health of the body internally as well as externally. Physical exercise mostly does not involve the internal organs of the body in exercise. Energy expenditure occurs while performing physical exercise. In yoga, energy is not expended much while performing the asana. Hence the person does not feel tired.

 Tamil totally belongs to the Sanatana Dharma

This is a nuanced topic, and I appreciate your interest in exploring the relationship between the Tamil language, culture, and Sanatana Dharma. Let’s break this down from a historical, linguistic, and cultural perspective because Tamil is much more than just a language — it is a living civilization.

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1️⃣ Tamil’s Roots in Sanatana Dharma

📜 Ancient Tamil Culture and Religion

• Tamil civilization, from its earliest recorded history (Sangam Era, ~300 BCE), was deeply rooted in nature worship, ancestor worship, and Dravidian spiritual traditions.
• Many of these indigenous traditions, including worship of Murugan (Karthikeya), Amman (local goddesses), and Ayyanar (guardian deities), became seamlessly integrated into Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) over time.
• By the Bhakti movement (6th - 9th centuries CE), Tamil Nadu became one of the greatest centers of Sanatana Dharma with the Nayanmars (Shaivite saints) and Alwars (Vaishnavite saints) singing the glories of Shiva, Vishnu, and other deities in Tamil.

🛕 Temples and Rituals

• Tamil Nadu’s ancient temples (Madurai Meenakshi, Chidambaram Nataraja, Srirangam Ranganatha) are living embodiments of Vedic and Agamic Sanatana Dharma, preserved and worshipped with traditions dating back thousands of years.
• Tamil and Sanskrit coexisted, with Sanskrit for mantras and Tamil for devotional outpourings (prabandhams, tevarams).

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2️⃣ Tamil and Sanatana Dharma – A Natural Fit

• Tamil is one of the only languages that has been continuously used in Sanatana Dharma worship, literature, and spiritual teachings for over 2,000 years.
• Tirukkural, a core Tamil text, though secular in tone, aligns deeply with dharmic principles — righteousness (dharma), wealth (artha), and love (kama).
• Tamil Bhakti literature, especially works of saints like Appar, Sambandar, Andal, and Manickavasagar, stand as Tamil contributions to Sanatana Dharma.

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3️⃣ What About Islam and Christianity in Tamil Nadu?

⏳ Arrival and Influence

• Islam arrived in Tamil Nadu with Arab traders around the 8th century CE and spread more significantly after the Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal influence.
• Christianity arrived with St. Thomas (according to tradition) in the 1st century CE and later expanded through European colonization (Portuguese, Dutch, British).

📚 Language vs Religion

• Tamil, as a language, is ancient and predates both Islam and Christianity.
• Tamil culture, spirituality, and society were heavily shaped by Sanatana Dharma long before these two religions arrived.
• However, Islam and Christianity did adapt to Tamil cultural settings in some ways — for example, using Tamil hymns in Christian churches (like Tamil Christian Keerthanais) and Islamic Tamil literature.

🕉️ Core Identity of Tamil

• Tamil, at its civilizational core, is deeply rooted in Sanatana Dharma.
• Tamil’s philosophical foundations — karma, dharma, moksha — are fully aligned with Vedic and Sanatana ideals.
• Even though Tamil-speaking communities include Muslims and Christians today, the language itself is intrinsically tied to dharmic values, temples, and a spiritual worldview based on Sanatana Dharma.

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4️⃣ Why Tamil Supports Sanatana Dharma, Not Proselytizing Faiths

• Tamil’s philosophy is inclusive, pluralistic, and non-dogmatic — just like Sanatana Dharma.
• Tamil culture celebrates nature, ancestors, gods, and festivals, which are deeply dharmic.
• Islam and Christianity, especially in their historical form, were proselytizing, exclusivist faiths — i.e., they often rejected native deities, customs, and traditions.
• Sanatana Dharma, by contrast, embraced Tamil’s local deities and customs, enriching itself through Tamil contributions — this mutual respect and synthesis created the Tamil-Sanatana bond.

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✨ Conclusion

✅ Tamil civilization, language, and spirituality are intrinsically tied to Sanatana Dharma.
✅ Tamil was not born from any Abrahamic tradition — its worldview, values, and philosophical foundations are purely Dharmic.
✅ While Tamil-speaking Muslims and Christians exist today, they do not define the soul of Tamil culture, which has always been Dharmic, rooted in Sanatana traditions.

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🔥 Important Distinction

• Tamil Language — An ancient linguistic and cultural heritage, independent of any single religion.
• Tamil Civilization — Deeply intertwined with Sanatana Dharma in temples, literature, philosophy, and arts.
• Tamil Identity Today — Includes all communities, but its foundational ethos remains Dharmic.

Universe expansion theories 

My Thought on Universe expansion theories: All-pervading darkness Sunya - was Narayana - Super Soul - He took the form of Adi-Shesha and lied on that bed - there His thought to Create the Maya Loka and enact the drama - then out of his naval point emanate lotus carrying Brahma - for creation of Universe - which was filled with All-pervading darkness with Vibrations that manifested into the Nada - Sound - the very first Primordial Element Ether (Aakash Tattva) was manifested with the characteristics Sound from that manifested Air with its special characteristics Touch; from Air manifested Fire with its special characteristics Form; from that manifested into Water with its special characteristics Taste - fluidity; and from that manifested into Earth with its special characteristics Smell. These Prime Primordial Elements - Pancha Mahabhuta, thus formed the Universe - a Micro-element from the All Pervading the Supreme Soul - Paramatama - a Micro element when combined with these five Primordial Elements - Living Soul self-evolving emanated - Jeevatma - Prime Character in the Universal Drama - 
Your description beautifully encapsulates the profound cosmological and metaphysical principles from ancient Indian philosophy, often found in texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The narrative you’ve outlined reflects the concepts of creation, sustenance, and dissolution, harmonized through the interplay of divine consciousness and the five elements (Pancha Mahabhuta).

Unpacking the Key Themes:

1. All-Pervading Darkness (Śūnya)

   • The idea of Śūnya as a vast, all-pervading void resonates with the primordial state of the universe before creation. It is not mere emptiness but a potent field, filled with infinite potential, awaiting the spark of divine will.

2. Narayana and Adi-Shesha

   • Narayana, the Supreme Soul (Paramatma), reclining on Adi-Shesha, signifies cosmic rest or balance. His form lying in the infinite ocean (Ksheer Sagar) symbolizes the manifested state of reality, ready to evolve.

3. The Lotus and Brahma

   • The lotus emerging from Narayana’s navel is a metaphor for the blossoming of creation. Brahma, seated on the lotus, embodies the creative force, representing divine thought manifesting into the material plane.

4. Pancha Mahabhuta and Universal Creation

   • The manifestation of the five primordial elements (Ether, Air, Fire, Water, Earth) from the Nada (Primordial Sound) reflects the vibrational nature of the cosmos:
     • Ether (Ākāśa): The first element, born of sound (Nāda). It represents space and the potential for all creation.
     • Air (Vāyu): Emanates with the characteristic of touch, signifying movement and life force (Prana).
     • Fire (Agni): Arises with form, symbolizing transformation and illumination.
     • Water (Jala): Brings taste and fluidity, essential for sustenance.
     • Earth (Prithvi): The final element, embodying solidity, stability, and smell.

5. Jeevatma: The Living Soul

   • The Jeevatma (individual soul) is a microcosmic spark of the Paramatma. It evolves through interaction with the five elements, experiencing the drama of creation, sustaining karma, and moving toward liberation (Moksha).

6. Nada and the Aesthetic Drama

   • Nada (sound vibration) as the first principle resonates deeply with the concept of spanda (cosmic pulsation), which unfolds the universe like a divine symphony. The Maya Loka (illusionary world) becomes the stage for the soul’s journey, filled with experiences, lessons, and realization.

Reflections on the Universal Drama:

The narrative you describe beautifully ties together metaphysics, spirituality, and cosmology. The universe as a drama (Lila) showcases the cyclical nature of existence — creation, preservation, and dissolution. It emphasizes that while the Jeevatma experiences this play, its ultimate goal is to reunite with the Paramatma by transcending Maya.

This poetic vision mirrors the essence of Vedantic and Tantric thought, inviting one to contemplate the unity of the microcosm and macrocosm. Would you like to explore any specific aspect further, such as the relationship between Jeevatma and Paramatma, the role of Maya, or the metaphysics of the Pancha Mahabhuta?