HYDROTHERAPY, ACUPRESSURE, MONSOON IN THE RIG VEDA; TWO RARE VEDIC MANTRAS-PART 2 (Post No.7422)

Research article Written by London Swaminathan

Uploaded in London on  – 5 JANUARY 2020

Post No.7422

contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

pictures are taken from various sources; thanks.

I explained the medical knowledge in the Rig Vedic hymn 10-136 yesterday on the basis of R T Griffith’s comments. Griffith (1826- 1906) makes another interesting comment in the next Rig Vedic hymn in the Tenth Mandala (10-137)

I add my comments about the Vedic seers’ knowledge about the two monsoons of India and Naturopathy including massage and acupressure.

Here is the full hymn:-

xxx

Griffith says,

10-137-7

This stanza is important as showing that the Indians employed touches or laying-on of hands to relieve suffering or to restore health. See also X-60-12

Griffith’s translation of 10-60-12 also talks about hand cure:-

Felicitous is this mine hand, yet more felicitous is this.

This hand contains all healing balm, and this makes whole with gentle touch . tamilandvedas.com , swamiindology.blogspot.com

10-137-4

The Wind speaks , weakening malady: yaksma may be sickness in general, or the name of a large class of diseases, probably of consumptive nature.

10-137-1

Who committed sin: sickness and death being regarded as the consequence of sins.

Xxx

My Comments

This hymn is received from the great Seven Seers; Hindus named the Ursa Major constellation in the northern sky as Seven Seers (Sapta Rishi) constellation. They also named the twin star at the end of the seven star system as Vasishta and his wife Arundhati.

These Seven Seers and the chaste woman Arundhati are worshipped by Hindus for over 2000 years from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari. 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature has all the praise for the chaste Hindu wife Arundhati in umpteen places. Seven Star system is worshipped by the Tamils according to Narrinai verse 231 by Tamil poet Ilanaganar. tamilandvedas.com , swamiindology.blogspot.com

The Sapta Rishis say one stanza each in the hymn; they are

Bharadvaja, Kasyapa, Gautama, Atri, Visvamitra, Jamadagni,

and Vasishtha.

xxxx

Meteorology and Two Monsoons

10-137-2 speaks of the two winds from the seas. My interpretation is that they are South West Monsoon and North East Monsoon. Kalidasa of first century BCE, travels with the S W monsoon up to the Himalaya in his poem Megadhuta. He is the oldest poet who tracks the monsoon from south to north. He is the oldest tourist guide who describes all the places along the path of the S W monsoon.

10-137-1 shows the belief in the Karma theory of Hindus. What we get in this birth is from the acts we did in our previous births; Diseases come out of sins. Even atheists would agree that the sinful acts(smoking, drinking, too much indulgence etc)  done during this birth would result in several types of diseases. tamilandvedas.com , swamiindology.blogspot.com

10-137-5 is about the wind born cure. Several patients carry oxygen cylinders for easy breathing. Hindus know from the early days that fresh, unpolluted air refreshes the body and mind. Maruts mentioned here are Wind Gods. Maruti (Hanuman, Anjaneya) is derived from this wind deity Marut.

10-137-6 is about the hydrotherapy; people use water to cure various diseases. This includes the holy dip in cold water, hot water springs and the springs with medicinal properties. Modern day spas are also included.

10-137-7  is about the ten fingers used to cure diseases. Those who believe in the human aura interpreted it as the magical vibration that passed to the patients. Those who don’t believe in such things interpret is as massage and acupressure.  We have already seen Acupuncture in the Bhisma’s Bed of Arrows. So here we may interpret it as Acupressure and Massage techniques with ten fingers. These are all part of Naturopathy.

All the Seven Rishis use nature as balms. Their soothing words will give psychological treatment to the patients. Placebo effect is great.

So I look at this hymn as a hymn on Naturopathy, Magical hand cure, Hydrotherapy, Meteorology and the Fresh air therapy which we get in hilly tourist resorts. tamilandvedas.com , swamiindology.blogspot.com

Long Live the Vedic Seers.

–subham–