Restless Leg Syndrome
April 12, 2009
RLS or Restless Leg Syndrome is fairly a common problem among many but it is rarely given much importance. This is mainly because the sufferer doesn’t think it is very relevant enough to have a consultation with a doctor. This is exactly what happened to a friend of mine. She constantly complained of fatigue in her legs and a weird sensation. Sometimes, she explained the feeling as tingling and sometimes said her legs jerked on its own.
It got worse at night and she started losing sleep over this. Still, she dismissed it and continued to live few months in this agony. She was popularly known as a “night bird” for her active partying habits and soon she started staying home in the evenings. Her absence in our social circle grew a concern for the rest of us and we forced her to get a check up and discuss this problem with a specialist.
After a thorough and elaborate discussion with her doctor, we finally understood her problem and it was indeed RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). There are many other symptoms that direct the suffered to understand this ailment like the urge to move up and down, sitting or lying down tends to make the restlessness in the legs. The knee or toes tingle or even jerk if the body is rested for a while.
There are numerous reasons for this RLS to trigger in a person. It could be genetic or an imbalance of a chemical called dopamine in the brain. This chemical is dependent on the iron percentage in the body. So less iron in the body can trigger RLS. It is also said that excessive stress or psychiatric conditions may intensify this condition.
Currently there is no permanent cure to RLS. But there are lots of ways to manage this condition.
1) Regular exercising.
2) Reduce intake of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine in the diet especially after sunset.
3) Massaging your legs before bedtime.
4) Pacing or going for a walk before bedtime.
5) Learn stretching exercises so that if you are awakened in the middle of the night with the urge to move, you can sit on your bed and do the light stretching without the need to walk around the house. In this way, after you feel relaxed you can again fall asleep. You don’t have to turn on the light and ruin your sleep.
6) Learn to develop a regular sleep pattern.
Restless Leg Syndrome is not a disease or something to be ashamed of. It becomes a way of life soon if you learn to accept it instead of feeling helpless. There are various medications available too but they should be taken after discussing it with your doctor.
©Nayna Chakrabarty, 2007-2009. All Rights Reserved.
Mantra For Auspicious Beginning And The Significance Of Performing Aarti
April 5, 2009
We all want positive vibrations, harmony and balance in our lives. We consult priests and people in high spiritual authorities when we buy a new car, house or start a business venture. The reason behind this is to cleanse the negativity around us and help us to enter a new home or partake in any venture with the Lord’s blessings and guidance.
Mantras are also printed on wedding cards, invites for a child’s naming ceremony and thread ceremony. There is always a reason behind this-to seek blessings so that His Grace always guides us in our daily life.
The following mantra of Lord Ganesh is resonated everywhere and many people repeat it without clear understanding. The reason to know the meanings behind every mantra and its pronunciation is vital because it explains why we are doing it and this clarity helps in uplifting us with a little more devotion.
Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva
Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa
Vakratunda – curved trunk (This form of Lord Ganesh is where He is depicted as standing, unlike His other Mudras (postures) where He is usually seated.)
Mahakaaya – Large bodied
Surya kotee – Millions of sun
Sama Prabha- With the brilliance of
Nirvighnam – Free of obstacles
Kuru- Make
mey- My
Deva – Lord
Sarva Kaaryeshu- In all work/pursuits
Sarvada – Always
It Means:
O Lord Ganesh, who has a curved trunk and a large body, whose brilliance is as bright and luminous like millions of sun. My Lord remove/free all the obstacles/ hindrances that come in the path of all my pursuits, always.
The Significance Of Performing Aarti
Aarti is always performed at the end of the Puja. It means that whatever mistakes that has been done knowingly and unknowingly while doing the rituals, this is the way we ask for forgiveness.
In the process of performing Aarti, we light the diya usually Pancha Pradeep (Pancha meaning five, Pradeep meaning light wicks dipped in clarified butter or ghee) When we do this we are seeing the beauty of the Lord in all his glory.
All the devotees stand as a sign of respect when the Guruji/ Panditji start performing this and everyone gathered sing and clap. This is associated with the joy that accompanies the vision of the Lord.
Aarti is performed with the use of Camphor. Sometimes the wicks of the diya are applied with crushed camphor or the instrument/ vessel that is used to perform the aarti has a place in the centre where the camphor pieces are kept.
Camphor burns itself out completely without leaving a trace. It represents our Vasanas or unmanifested desires. So when we were taking refuge in the Lord, to obtain knowledge, these desires will get burnt out. It emits a wonderful fragrance purifying the surrounding environment creating a sense of happiness.
We close our eyes while performing the Aarti where we try to look within-Self or Atman. At the end of the Aarti we place our hands over the flame and touch our eyes, top of the head and then chest. It means that may the light that illumined the Lord, light up our vision, and may our thoughts become pure. This is how we take the blessings of the Lord.
The following are the Aartis of Lord Ganesh chanted by devotees worldwide.
Ganapati Aarti (1)
Sukhkarta dukhharta varta vighnachi I Nurvi purvi prem krupa jayachi I ISarvangi sundar uti shendurachi I I Kanthi zalke mal mukta- phalachi I I 1 I I Jay dev jai dev jay mangal murti I Darshanmatre mankamana purti
Ratnakhachit fara tuj gaurikumra I Chandanachi uti kumkumkeshara I IHirejadit mugut Shobhato bara I I Runzunati nupure charni ghagaria I I 2 I ILambodar Pitambar phadivarbandhana I Saral sond vakratunda trinayan I IDas ramacha vat pahe sadana I Sankti pavave Nirvani Rakshave survarvandana I I 3 I I
Ganapati Aarti (2)
Tu sukhkarta tu dukhharta vignavinashak moray I I Sankati Rakshi sharan tula mi
Ganpati bappa moray I I I I Mangalmurti tu gannayak I Vakratund tu siddhivinayak I I
Tujiya dwari aj pavalo I Nei Sthitiprati raya I I 1 I I Tu saklancha bhgyavidhata I I
Tu vidyecha swami data I I Gyandeep ujaloon amucha I I Nimvi nairashyala I I 2 I I
Tu mata tu pita jagi ya I I Papar mi swar une bhasati I I tujhi arti gaya I I 3 I I
Ganapati Aarti (3)
Nana parimal durva shendur shamipatre I Ladoo modak anne paripoorit patre I I
Aise poojan kelya beejakshar mantre I Ashtahi siddhi navnidhi desi kshanmatre I
Jay dev jai dev jay mangal murti I Tujhe gun varnaya maj kaichi sfurtee I I
Tujhe dhyan nirntar je koni karitee I I Tyanchi sakalhi pape vignehi harati I I
Vaji varan shibika sevak sut yuvati I I Sarvahi pahuni antee bhavsagar tarati I I 2 I I
Sharanagat sarvasve bhajati tav charnee I Kirti tayachi rahe jovari shashitaranee I I
Trailokyi te vijayee adbhut te karani I I Gosavinandan rat namsmaranee I I 3 I I
Ganapati Aarti (4)
Gajanana shriganraya I Adhi vandu tuj morya I I Mangalmurti shriganraya
Adhi vandu tuj morya I I 1 I I Sindur charchitdhavale ang I Chandan uti
Khulabi rang I I Baghata manas hote dang I Jeev jadala charani tujiya I I 2 I I
Gauritanya bhalchandra I Deva krupechya tu samudra I I Varadvinayak karunagara I
Avadhi vigne nesi vilaya I I 3 I I
Ganapati Aarti (5)
Shendur lal chadhayo achchha gajmukhko I I Dondil lal biraje sut gauriharko I I
Hath liye gudladdu sai survarko I I Mahima kahe na jay lagat hoo padko I I 1I I
Jai jai shri ganraj vidhyasukhdata I I Dhanya tumara darshan mera man ramata I I
Ashto siddhi dasi sankatko bairi I I vignavinashan mangal murat adhikari I I
Koti surajprakash aisi chhabi teri I Gandasthala madmastak jhoole Shashihari I I 2 I I
Bhavbhagat se koi sharanagat ave I I santat sabhi bharpur pave I I Aise tum
Maharaj moko ati bhave I I Gosavinandan nishidin gun gave I I 3 I I
©Nayna Chakrabarty, 2007-2009. All Rights Reserved.
