" If the doors of perception were cleansed , Everything would appear to man as it is : infinite " -William Blake
Before you start reading this article , ask yourself " what image does the word fire conjure in my mind ?" I have asked this question to many people and some of the responses were ... * A burning forest , * Fire enlightened on a stove , * A firefighter in action , * An erupting volcano
While all of these are perfectly valid answers , my purpose in asking this question was to show you how differently a Vaidya ( Ayurveda Doctor ) looks at an element of nature . For a Vaidya , fire is a light in your eye , fire in the belly is more than just a metaphor , fire is the heat in your body and creative energy in your brain !
In Bhagvad Gita , lord Krishna says ... " Aham vaisvanaro bhutva praninam deham asritah Pranapana-samayuktah pacamy Annam catur-vidham "
" I am the fire of digestion in the bodies of all living entities , and I with the help of prana & apan , digest the four kinds of foodstuff " which is Bhaksya , Bhojya , lehya , and Choshya .
Agni , according to Ayurveda , is an important concept for any physician who practices Ayurveda . Agni is the dragon of the digestive system for every creature . Agni is digestive fire , source of life , a sign of life and a presence of unseen energy . Constitutional fire is responsible for digestion . It is the availability of fire that determines the production of gastric juices : hydrochloric acid , bile , enzymes ; in short , the caustic chemicals that are required for the breakdown of food and its conversion into micronutrients that can be assimilated by t he body and bulk matter that needs to be eliminated .
When Agni is strong , food is digested properly and you feel harmonious inside out . But whenever t his fire is weak , there is not enough digestive power to metabolize food and toxins of various kinds , largely from undigested food particles called ama in Ayurveda which accumulate and breed disease .
Ayurveda views the health of the body as the functioning of a biological fire-governed metabolism . If this essential part is functioning effectively , the whole body will be nourished , full of life and vibrancy .
Certain herbs such as ginger , cayenne , and most carminatives ( cooking spices ) have a medicinal value to keep your Agni lit . I recommend taking these herbs as teas , they may help enkindle Agni which will burn away toxins . Herbs which are pungent and bitter in taste decrease ama ( undigested food ).
Here are some recommended herbs for your agni : Aloe Vera , black pepper , cardamom , cayenne pepper , cinnamon , fennel seeds and ginger root .
As long as Agni is functioning correctly , the process of breaking down food , absorbing and assimilating it into the body will work effortlessly . An individual with a healthy and active Agni will result in a healthy and vibrant body . longevity depends upon Agni .
Agni Tea Recipe ( Recipe Source : Dr . Vasant lad ) Ingredients :
1 quart Water
1 pinch Cayenne 2 handfuls Minced ginger root 2 tbsp . Sucanat or other sweetener
1 to 2 tsp . Rock salt
Preparation : Bring all of the above ingredients to a boil . Boil for 20 minutes . Take the pot off the burner and cool for a few minutes Add the juice of 1 / 2 lime . Do not boil t he lime j uice . Pour into a thermos and enjoy throughout t he day ! Agni Tea is a simple beverage that helps to regulate and stimulate your digestive capacity , improving all the functions of digestive Agni .
Ayurveda spells health as " b-a-1-a-n-c-e ". Keep your Agni balanced and you will enjoy your life to the fullest ! Use your fire energy to know yourself better . A doctor knows the human body , but they can never know your body better than you ! Here , I would like to summarize w ith Rigveda Mantra . Recite the " Agni mantra " to improve dissimulation in your body , maintain proper functioning of all organs and for overall vitality :
" Om Vaisvanaraya Vidhmahe Lalelaya Dhimahi Tanno Agni Pracodayat "
May we realize the Vaiswanar -the fire God I Let us meditate on that seven tonged mystic fire .
May Agni -the fire- God illuminate us ! Hari Om tat sat !
Author Vaidya- Dr . Dhanada Kulkarni- BAMS , M . D . ( Alternative Medicine ), Ayurvedic Physician , Founder of Soham AyurYoga . And American Institute of Ayurveda Sohamayuryoga @ gmail . com
11 ~ MANTRA Issued Feb / Mar 2016