Ayurvedic Eye Care

Our eyes are the most important organs we have in relating to the world around us. Our eyes are the connection between the outer and inner worlds. In fact it is said that our eyes are the mirror to our soul. We must protect and take loving care of these delicate organs.

Ayurveda explains that Pitta dosha, the element of fire and light, governs our eyes. Specifically, the sub-dosha “Alochaka Pitta” lives in the eyes. Alochaka pitta absorbs images and colors, allowing us to take in and digest all of the visual impressions coming to us. When Alochaka pitta is in balance, eyes are healthy, bright, clear, shiny, luminous, and we enjoy sharp eyesight.

If pitta becomes aggravated, we can experience excess heat, anger, frustration, and liver problems. As pitta rises in a person, they become stressed, feel over worked, and eventually burnout. Impaired vision and eye problems are often related to pitta overdrive and liver imbalance. The best remedy is to keep pitta cool and calm with proper foods and daily meditation.

Tarpaka Kapha is responsible for keeping the eyes lubricated, moist and cool. Prana Vata is responsible for the life force that runs throughout the head region, for movement of the eyes, blinking, and sensory perception.

Vedic science offers many natural, safe and effective techniques to care for our eyes. The following suggestions can improve vision, reduce eye strain, and heal eye conditions.

GAZING*

Acording to ayurvedic astrology, the Sun rules the eyes. Gentle sun gazing can improve eyesight. One can softly gaze at the sun starting with 10 seconds, and increasing time by 10 second increments daily. Stand barefoot with the feet directly touching the earth. Solar gazing is only recommended at early sunrise and/or the late sunset, when harmful UV rays can not injure the eyes. Not only does solar gazing improve vision, but it activates the pineal gland, or “third eye”, clearing the mind of depressive and anxious moods.

Trataka – A very beneficial eye exercise is to meditate upon a ghee lamp flame without blinking. Gaze at the flame for 2 or 3 minutes, until tears form and clear the eyes. This stimulates ojas in the eyes, physically strengthening them. The ghee made out of cow’s milk actually draws in sattvic frequencies to calm our mind. This type of meditation allows us to reflect on our inner radiance.

*Gazing techniques should not be done during acute eye infections or glaucoma.

WASHING

Start the day by splashing some cool water on the eyes. One can also retain some cool water in the mouth while rinsing the eyes and blinking. This helps to keep Pitta in balance throughout the head region.

An Ayurvedic eye wash made out of well strained Triphala tea can be helpful in treating eye disorders. Triphala is a well-known eye tonic and anti-inflammatory. This eyewash helps with glaucoma, dissolving cataracts, conjunctivitis (pink eye), poor eyesight, sties, and red, swollen, itchy eyes.

OLEATING

Netra Basti is a restorative Ayurvedic treatment that bathes the entire eye socket in a pool of warm Ghee. This helps to cleanse the eye, soothe itchy eyes, and nourish dry eyes. The person lies down with this melted ghee covering their eye, anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. The eyes are kept open, allowing the ghee to cool pitta and lubricate vata dosha. Netra Basti is recommended for pain and overexertion due to computer use, allergies, squinting, lazy eye, diminished vision, optic nerve injury, atrophy, and eye spasms. This treatment is especially helpful is healing emotional trauma because it is working directly on the nervous system through the eyes.

Castor oil – one drop at bedtime in the eye helps to lubricate the cornea, reducing eye strain and irritation. In India, a black eyeliner called “Kajal” made of Castor oil and burnt camphor is applied under the eyes to keep them cool. Mothers especially apply Kajal on babies to sharpen their vision, and protect their children from someone’s “evil eye”.

RESTING

Go to sleep by 10pm. One of the main causes of eye problems is lack of sleep. Without proper rest, eyes become tired, red, itchy, puffy, bleary, and bloodshot. Staying awake into the fiery Pitta hours of late night, leads to over exhaustion and burnout.

PALMING is an excellent way to give the eyes some rest when they are overstrained. Eyes need a break if they have been in front of a computer or TV screen, reading, driving, or doing close-up work, for too long a stretch. Simply rub the palms together for a few seconds and gently place them over the eyes. This provides an unbelievable deep rest that blocks out outside stimulation and helps tired, blurry eyes.

Eye Pads –Place cooling cotton pads dipped in Rose Water over the eyes, and escape for a few moments in your very own home spa. Cotton pads can be also be dipped in aloe vera, cilantro, or cucumber juices. One could even apply a paste of sandalwood powder and water on the forehead, to soothe eye strain that leads to headaches.

EATING

Foods that are rich in beta carotene (vitamin A) help improve eyesight and prevent eye conditions. Try fruits and vegetables that have a deep orange or yellow color – Carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, , apricots, peaches, cantaloupe, mangoes. Dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, beet greens, Swiss chard, mustard and collard greens,) and broccoli also contain carotene.

Amalaki fruit is an anti-aging tonic or Rasayana in Ayurveda, rich in vitamin C and anti-oxidents. Amalaki is wonderful in maintaining pitta balance, and supports liver cleansing. Amala berry is specifically known as a “Chakshushya”, which means “that which strengthens the eyes”.

http://ayurveda-sedona.com

health tips

History of Indian fashion

History of Indian fashion

The first Indians lived in the Indus Valley civilization that flourished along the Indus River in modern-day Pakistan, from 2500 to 1600 B.C.E. The garments made in ancient India were woven of light fabric and wrapped around the body to create different styles. Although Indians knew how to sew, it was Muslims who popularized the wearing of sewn garments, including trousers and jackets. The oldest type of Indian clothing was fashioned out of yards of unsewn fabric that were then wound around the body in a variety of ways to create different, distinct garments. This clothing was woven most commonly out of cotton but could also be made of goat hair, linen, silk, or wool. Some of the most popular garments are a wrapped dress called a sari, a pair of pants called a dhoti, a hat called a turban, and a variety of scarves. These styles of garments have been popular in India since the beginning of its civilization and continue to be worn in the twenty-first century.

Jewlery

Women wore jewelry daily, but wedding ceremonies required the most decoration. Jewelry signifying a woman’s married status is very important in Indian culture. Rather than using a wedding ring as Western cultures do, Indians use a variety of regional types of ornament. In northern India women wear specific ornaments on the head, nose, wrist, and toes, while in southern India ornaments called thali signify marriage. Many other regional variations also exist. Some wear silver anklets and toe rings. Women often wear special jewelry during their wedding ceremonies and some continue to wear this jewelry during the first year of their marriage for luck.
Traditional Indian medical practices suggest that amber will protect against sore throats and that yellow amber prevents jaundice, a deficiency of vitamin D that causes the skin to turn yellow. More elaborate amulets began to be made of metal and jewels. These amulets took many forms, including intricately engraved plates with symbols of gods and weapon-shaped amulets in the form of arrowheads and knives.

Paduka

Although all padukas are soles with a toe knob, not all padukas are simple. Some are lavishly decorated and made of expensive materials such as ivory, leather, silver, or rare wood. While common padukas are cut in the shape of a footprint, padukas for celebratory or ritual occasions are cut in the shape of fish, hourglasses, or feet with carved toes. These special occasion padukas are made with great care. Expertly carved, painted, or inlaid with silver and gold, they are quite luxurious. One pair of intricately painted wooden padukas featured toe knobs topped with ivory lotus flowers that turned from bud to blossom as each step triggered a mechanism in the sole.

Sari Like the Greeks and Romans who followed them, the ancient people of India mainly wore garments that were wrapped and draped, rather than sewn. This was not because they did not know the art of sewing—early Indian people were experts in fine weaving and embroidery—but because they preferred the flexibility and creativity that draped clothing allowed. Loose, flowing garments were practical in the hot climate of southern Asia, and the sari, woven of cotton or silk, was both cool and graceful. Though rich and poor alike wore the sari, the wealthy could afford to have fine silk fabric with costly decorations, while the poor might wear rough plain cotton. The basic wrap of a sari usually involves winding it around the waist first then wrapping it around the upper body. Women frequently wear underclothes of a half-slip tied around the waist and a tight blouse or breast-wrap that ends just below the bust, which provide the basis for wrapping the fabric of the sari. There are many different styles of wrapping and draping the sari, and these vary according to gender, region, social class, ethnic background, and personal style. Instead of wrapping the fabric around the chest, the ends of the sari can be simply thrown over one or both shoulders. Burka A long, flowing garment that covers the whole body from head to feet, the burka, also known as burqa or abaya, is an important part of the dress of Muslim women in many different countries. Some burkas leave the face uncovered, but most have a cloth or metal grid that hides the face from view while allowing the wearer to see. The exact origin of the burka is unknown, but similar forms of veiling have been worn by women in countries such as India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan since the beginning of the Muslim religion in 622 C.E. Young girls are not required to cover themselves with a burka, but at puberty or marriage they begin to wear it. Choli At the dawn of Indian civilization in 2500 B.C.E., women left their breasts bare. It was under Muslim rule, which lasted from 1500 to 1700 C.E., that women began to dress more modestly. The choli, a sewn garment that covered women’s breasts, became popular as the Muslims rose in power. The choli is worn with a skirt or under a sari, a draped dress. Although Indian women wore unstitched garments from the beginning of Indian civilization, from the first invasion of the Muslims in about the tenth century some Indians began to wear stitched garments. The choli is such a garment. The first choli only covered a woman’s breasts, leaving her back bare. The garment evolved into many different variations, the most common being a tight-fitting bodice with short or long sleeves that ended just below the breasts or just above the waist. Many other variations of the choli are worn throughout India today and include styles fastened with ties, versions with rounded necklines, and some that shape or flatten the breasts. info: http://www.rolagola.com/fashion/old_fashion.html

Foot Decorating The foot has had religious and social significance in India since ancient times. Deities are represented by a set of divine footprints on items ranging from paintings and woven shawls to amulets—ornaments that are worn to protect the wearer. The feet of older people are revered by youth, lovers show their affection for each other by caressing each other’s feet, and Indian mothers take special care of their babies’ feet by massaging them. Indians have decorated their feet since the first Indus Valley civilization—which flourished along the Indus River in modern-day Pakistan— in 2500 B.C.E.

Arabic calligraphy

01. Allah Ahad (Square Kufi)

02. Allah Akbar (Square Kufi)

03. Allah Jameel Yuhibu el-Jamal ( Modern)

04. Allah (Eastern Kufi)

05. Allah (Square Kufi)

06. Allah (Thuluth)

07. Bism Allah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim;
In the name of God, the Ever-Merciful,
The Mercy-Giving (Basmalah, Eastern Kufi)

08. Basmalah (Kufi)

09. Basmalah (Modern)

10. Basmalah (Modern 2)

11. Basmalah (Modern Small


12. Basmalah (Muhaqqaq)

13. Basmalah (Naskhi)

14. Basmalah (Nastaliq)

15. Basmalah (Old Kufi)

16. Basmalah (Thuluth Round).

17. Holiday Greetings (Kufi)

18. Holiday Greetings 2 (Kufi)

19. Kufi Octagon (Square Kufi)

20. Middle East (Square Kufi)
21. Mosque (Shahadah, Square Kufi)
22. Muhammad Square (Square Kufi)
23. Muhammad Star (Kufi)
24. Muhammad Star 2 (Kufi)
25. Mulku Band (Square Kufi)
26. Mulku Square (S
27. Optical Kufi (Square Kufi)

Allah
alizzatu lillah
qul mashaa Allah
ma tawfiqi illa billah
wala hawla wala quwwata illa billah
la ilaha illa Allah
Muhammadun rasul Allah

28. Shahadah Band (Square Kufi)
29. Shahadah Band (Square Kufi, Version 2)
30. Shahadah Square (Square Kufi)
31. Star Part 1 (Square Kufi) Wa qul Rabbi
zidni ilman
32. Star Part 2 (Square Kufi) Iqraa
33. Tiled Kufi (Square Kufi) Allah, Muhammad.
34. Tiled Kufi (Square Kufi) Allah, Muhammad, Ali

info: http://aramedia.com

::Arabian Clothing and Fashion::

The Arabs of today wear pretty much similar clothing than they used to wear since pre-Islamic periods. Women may have undergone some changes considering the covering up of the head. Traditional Islamic wear for women includes the abaya, the chador, and the burqa, as well as countless other forms of dress and headcovering.

The women wear a variety of different ensembles to cover themselves.

The Jilbab


In modern day usage, jilbab refers to a long, flowing, baggy overgarment worn by some Muslim women. The modern jilbab covers the entire body, except for hands, feet, face, and head. The head is then covered by a scarf or wrap, known also as a Hijab.

It is not clear that any Muslim women wore jilbabs in the long centuries between the early Muslim period and the 1970s.

The Burqa

A burqa is a type of opaque veil sometimes worn in addition to a headscarf by Muslim women observing purdah. There are various versions of the burqa according to different regions in the muslim world. In Arab terms the burqa is generally black in color and is of ankle length, if not longer. The arms are then put through two holes with the front open and just layered over one another and held together with their hands.

In some parts of the Muslim world the burqa may also cover the entire face with a see through veil over it, although not necessary by the religion some very conservative regions observe burqa this way, example in Afghanistan during the Taliban rule.

The Abaya

The abaya is an overgarment worn by some Muslim women. It is the traditional form of hijab, or Islamic modest dress, for many countries of the Arabian peninsula. Traditional abaya are black, and may be either a large square of fabric draped from the shoulders or head, or a long black caftan.

Today abaya’s are cut from light, flowing fabrics like crepe, georgette, and chiffon. They are now made in colors other than black.


---::--Various Kinds of Veils--::---


The word hijab comes from the Arabic for veil and is used to describe the headscarves worn by Muslim women.

These scarves, regarded by many Muslims as a symbol of both religion and womanhood, come in a myriad of styles and colours. The type most commonly worn in the West is a square scarf that covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear.


The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear. However, it may be worn with a separate eye veil. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf.

The burqa is the most concealing of all Islamic veils. It covers the entire face and body, leaving just a mesh screen to see through.


The al-amira is a two-piece veil. It consists of a close fitting cap, usually made from cotton or polyester, and an accompanying tube-like scarf.

The shayla is a long, rectangular scarf popular in the Gulf region. It is wrapped around the head and tucked or pinned in place at the shoulders.


The khimar is a long, cape-like veil that hangs down to just above the waist. It covers the hair, neck and shoulders completely, but leaves the face clear.

The chador, worn by Iranian women when outside the house, is a full-body cloak. It is often accompanied by a smaller headscarf underneath.


info: http://www.ethnicdenim.com/read-about-arabian-fashion-and-culture/