India is an excellent example of an ancient civilization with its long religious traditions, is the perfect place to enjoy a unique and profoundly spiritual experience. India is a home to yoga, Buddhist meditation, Ayurveda (traditional Hindu medicine). And one of the most spectacular religious ceremonies in the world, Ganga Aarti, the ritual performed to honor the Ganges River.
Yoga and Ayurveda are two “sister” practices that originated in India thousands of years ago. “Ayurveda is the science and yoga is the practice of the science.” Yoga and ayurveda are inseparable sisters. Both originate as part of a greater system of Vedic knowledge. Yoga originates in the Yajur Veda, while Ayurveda originates in the Atharva Veda and Rig Veda.
Both yoga and ayurveda also encompass an understanding of how the body works.
Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It is an art and science of healthy living. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, human & nature.
The legend of Shiva, the first yogi and guru, reveals the origin of yoga as a path to enlightenment and liberation.
Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine that originated in India a thousand of years ago. The term Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda translates to “knowledge of life”
The oldest known texts on Ayurveda are the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and the Ashtanga Hrudaya. These texts detail the affect that the five elements found in the cosmic system - earth, water, air, fire, ether – have on our individual system, and expound on the importance of keeping these elements balanced for a healthy and happy life.
According to Ayurveda, each person will be influenced by certain elements more than others. This is because of their prakriti, or natural constitution. Ayurveda categorizes into three different doshas:-
Vata dosha, in which the air and space elements dominate
Pitta dosha, in which the fire element dominates
Kapha dosha, in which the earth and water elements dominate
The dosha affects not just the shape of one’s body but also bodily tendencies (like food preferences and digestion), and the temperament of one’s mind and emotions. Ayurveda encourages certain lifestyle interventions and natural therapies to regain a balance between the MIND and BODY, NATURE and SOUL.
As per the Ayurveda, we fall sick whenever there is an imbalance of the “FIVE key elements of ether, air, water, fire and earth in our body. And Ayurvedic massages are India’s best kept secret that is used to treat it."
We Stories of India invite you to the Spiritual journey of MIND, BODY, NATURE and SOUL, spend some time in a monastery in Leh, or maybe head to one of the famous yoga centers in Rishikesh. Enjoy an Ayurvedic treatment in Kerela and participate in the Ganga Aarti a ritual performed every evening to the honour Goddess Ganga in Varanasi. This tour offers you so many options to choose from and unwind, relax, and try to get a deeper understanding of life.
