The "GOLD"en Medicine

"One should always have some gold item on the body. It is good for health.", grandmothers used to say when we were young. Gold was one way of keeping savings handy, when other savings instruments were not available in plenty. That was a time when all could not afford gold jewelry. Many households did not even have silverware with them. A gold ring or a gold chain presented to the bride or groom at the time of a marriage would be a showpiece and passed around carefully under strict supervision, for the guess to see. There were some affluent families who did have some gold jewelry and they were looked upon with awe by others. Diamonds were not seen but only heard. Bank accounts were believed to be only for the rich. 

Times have changed. People have more disposable incomes now. Gold jewelry and bank accounts have become commonplace. Gold no longer evokes great emotions. Many people have started buying diamonds, small or big. Platinum has displaced Gold as the main jewelry metal. Bank accounts are for everybody. Those who do not have money to save have personal loans and consumer loans. Housing loans are available in all sizes and for all income groups. Then there are credit cards acting like the two edged swords. Great, if used carefully and agents of doom if used indiscreetly. Today, there are more people buying jewelry in posh storied shopping malls than fruits and vegetables at the nearby vegetable markets. Increase in vegetable and fruit prices is more concerning than movement in the price of gold. 

Gold is now available in every household and in good quantities as well. But law and order situation has improved so much that it is neither possible nor advisable to wear golden items on one's body and move around. Bank lockers are in great demand for storing all these jewelry items. Looking at the locker key is, of course, comforting to many. Ultimately, there is no gold jewelry on human bodies. It was paucity then; security and safety issues now!

Gold was (and is) not only an ornamental metal, but also a standard or scale for measuring quality. Literature abounds with reference to gold and anything good, precious or rare was compared to gold. Only few could ignore gold for something else! Lord Rama tells brother Lakshmana, standing on the shores of the mighty ocean and looking at Ravana's Lanka: Api swarnamayee Lanka, na mei Lakshmana rochate! Janani Janmabhoomischa swargadapi gareeyasi" (अपि स्वर्णमयी लङ्का न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते, जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसि). The first part is not well known, but the second part is often quoted as a lofty ideal. Other poets and writers have extensively used reference to gold in their works. Gold standard was a monetary system followed for many years all over the world. Gold was and is easily accepted in lieu of money even today.

Medical practitioners have identified the many medicinal properties of gold for a long time and used it in preparation of various medicines. Ayurveda is a pioneer in use of other metals as well as gold as an ingredient in various medicinal preparations. Swarna Bhasma or Gold Ash is used in many Ayurvedic formulations. Recorded usage of Gold as medicine is at least three thousand years old. There is referece to use of gold as medicine in "Sushruta Samhita". Adiman, Chandrasena and Nagarjuna have made valuable contributions to use of metals in medicinal preparations. 

"Rasa Ratna Samuchhaya" is a sanskrit work credited to one "Vagbhatacharya" (different from other well known personalities with similar names of earlier periods) and said to have been written in the 13th century. The verses are well knit with literary qualities as well as provide valuable input for medical practitioners. The many medicinal qualities of gold have been enumerated in detail in this text and some of them are:

• Gold enhances the life span and wealth and brings a sense of wellbeing.
• It enhances body complexion.
• It enhances intellect and memory.
• It increases Grahana and Dhaarana shakti (grasping and retention powers).
• It eradicates the spells of evil spirits and bad influences.
• It is a brain tonic and provides nourishment to the body.
• It eradicates the effects of poisoning.
• It cures Yakshma (Tuberculosis), Unmada (mental disturbance) and many other diseases.
• It improves digestive power and provides many other positive effects on the body.

Swarna Bindu Prashana has been practiced and administered to children for several centuries. Modren tools of advertisement and canvassing has made it even more familiar and enhanced its usage. In a way, it has become another "Akshaya Tritiya" type publicity that is connected with buying gold. Swarna Bindu Prashana is used for administering a gold formulation to children for increasing immunity, memory and strength in them. This is done once a month, on the day of "Pushya" nakshatra (star) day. Original reference to this type of Prashana is said to be in "Kashyapa Samhita". Providing for food and clothing for a number of children in the family was itself a challenge for parents decades ago. Family planning and increasing income levels have made Swarna Bindu Prashana more familiar and affordable nowadays. Parents, especially NRIs, look forward to Pushya Nakshtra day for "Swarna Bindu Prashana" in present times.

The next Swarna Bindu Prashana event is only three days away, on 6th July, 2016. Are you interested?

Old is Gold. Really?

"Old is Gold" is a proverb that is frequently quoted by almost everyone. On-line dictionary defines a proverb as "a short popular saying, usually of unknown or ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth". It is often a short statement of wisdom that is passed on for general usage. A proverb conveys much more than the words that comprise it. There are proverbs in every language; they symbolize the richness of the respective languages.

The words "Proverb" and "Idiom" are used by many interchangeably. While a proverb conveys a distinct and clear meaning in its entirety, an idiom is a style of speaking or writing that is particular, distinctive or notable phrase that cannot be understood from its individual words.  Idioms make sense only when the words are put together in a certain way or order, or when they are used in specific situations. "Last, but not least" is a popular phrase, though it does not qualify for being called a proverb. It is an idiom and many believe that they have to use "Last but not least" whenever somebody or something is mentioned in the end.

Ashok Kumar is a well known film artiste.  He has acted in many films during his lifetime. When he was acting as a hero in the movies several decades ago, his name was naturally being shown first in the title cards of those movies.  As he became older and moved to elderly roles, artistes much junior to him had to be given precedence in the title cards.  But neither his seniority and stature could be ignored nor the respect he commanded overlooked. The film industry found a way out; title cards showed the names of other artistes first, and in the end it would show "Above all - Ashok Kumar".  But the underlying truth was known to all; his name no longer appeared in the first title card.  Using the phrase "last but not least" often results in this paradox.  If he was really to be above all others, his name should have been indeed at the top.  "Last but not least" could only mean this much: you are not as important as others mentioned earlier; but not unimportant as well.

Let us get back to "Old is Gold".  Is old really gold?  Is it applicable to all old things? Is it not stretching things too far? It is true that many old things are indeed good. But there are some old things that are not so golden. There are many old things that are absolutely useless. At the same time, there are many new things which are extremely good and golden. Whether something is good or golden does not depend on it being old or new. Simply put, good things are golden irrespective of whether they are old or new. 

The debate about "Old is Gold" dates back to several centuries, and possibly over two thousand years. Things that are considered as golden now because they are old were questioned about their utility when they were new.  Even someone like Kalidasa, hailed later on as "Kavikulaguru" (doyen among poets), had to face this question in his early days as a poet.  He has himself asked this question and answered it as well in one of his plays.

In the well-known play Malavikagnimitram, believed to be the first of his three plays, Sutradhara (Director) begins by saying that the play "Malavikagnimitram" will be presented on stage that day.  Another character raises a question about the aptness of staging a new play of modern poet like Kalidasa, when there are many plays of well-known poets like Bhasa, Soumilla and Kaviputra available for presentation on stage. Kalidasa answers the question through the director:

पुराणमित्येव न साधु सर्वम्  न चापि काव्यं नवमित्यवद्यम् |
सन्तः परीक्ष्यान्यतरद्भजन्ते  मूढः परप्रत्यनेनबुद्दिः ||

Puranamityeva na saadhu sarvam, nachapi kavyam navamityavadyam
santah pareekshyanyataradbhajante moodhah parapratyanenabuddihi

Not all that is old is good; nor all that is new is bad
Learned accept as good after due verification; fools go by what others say!

The issue of "Old is gold" has been settled several centuries ago.  Whether something is good or bad is to be decided on its merits alone.  Not based on it being old or new.  It is that simple.  All good things are good.  How to know they are good?  Test them and then decide; not because someone else says so. 
        

This is a GOLDen Girl

Most of the news items nowadays relate to Film Stars, Politicians or Sports persons.  Achievements of anyone with a humble background is lost in the maze of the Paparazzi and media blitz.

There is a very old story which everyone has heard.   Some credit it to Akbar and Birbal.  Some to Krishnadevaraya and Tenali Rama.  Some others to another King and his Minister.   It does not really matter.  There is no harm in recollecting the story before I actually dwell on today's subject.

A King and his Minister were touring in the villages of their state, in disguise to find out the state of affairs and how their subjects were perceiving the administration.   They stumbled upon a very old man carrying water in a pot from a distant well to saplings in freshly planted pits.   King and the Minister watched him for some time from a distance.  The old man  was weak and tired but continued to bring water from the well and water the saplings.   The King felt like teasing the old man.  He moved his horse closer to the old man and the Minister followed him.  Sitting on his horse, the King spoke to the old man.

"You have planted these saplings just now.   You are bringing water from the far away well to water them.  You are already very old.  Do you really believe that you will live to eat fruits from these trees?"

The old man looked up and smiled.  "I am old but not a fool.  I know very well that I will never be alive till these saplings grow and yield fruits.   Look at the big trees laden with fruits there.  My ancestors planted them and I enjoyed the fruits from those trees.  I have planted these saplings.  Someone in future, may be grandson or great grandson will enjoy those fruits.   My work is for posterity and not for me".

The king was pleased by the wise words of the old man.  He looked at the Minister.  The Minister always carried small bags of gold coins.  He understood the King's mind and extended a bag of gold coins.   The King handed over the bag of coins to the old man.   The old man took the bag, saw the contents and looked up at the King with a mischievous smile.

"I am a very lucky old man.  These saplings have yielded fruits as soon as I have planted them!  And that too not ordinary fruits, but golden fruits!!", he said.

The King was mightily pleased and again looked at the Minister.  One more gold coin bag was passed on to the old man through the King.

"Oh my Lord, look at my good fortune.   All these saplings will yield fruits only once a year.  But these saplings have yielded golden fruits twice already!", the old man said.

The King looked at the Minister again, even more pleased with the old man.  The minister handed over a third bag of coins which the King passed on to the old man.  Before the old man could speak again, the Minister said:  "This man is not just old; he is also very wise.  He is witty and will exhaust all our coin bags if we stay here for some more time.  He has been amply rewarded.  It is better we are on our way".

The King smiled, patted the old man on his back and moved ahead with the Minister behind him.

This was just one of the hundreds of stories I have heard and told over the years.   But its real import was brought home by a news item today.  Zeeba Bhuktiyar is the daughter of Basheer Ahamed, an agricultural labourer and marginal farmer from the small village of Gullanpet near Charmadi Ghat in Chickmagalur District, Karnataka.  She studied at a High School in the small town of Aldur and secured 88% marks in SSLC (10th Standard).  She went to Alva's college in Moodubidare for her Pre-University course and secured 70% marks.  Motivated by the hard work of her father in the agricultural fields, she took up Horticulture as her subject for further study.   She went to the Moodubidare Agricultural College for the Degree course.   The rest, as they say, is history.

Horticulture University, Bagalkot was established by a Special Ordinance of Government of Karnataka in November 2008.  The first batch of degree holders received the degrees on 26th December 2011 in the first ever Convocation of the University.  Zeeba had secured 89.60% in her degree examinations and passed with distinction.  28 Gold Medals were awarded at the convocation.  Zeeba got 15 Gold Medals and only the remaining 13 were left for the other students.  Her photograph with 15 Gold Medals around her neck is one of the finest photographs I have ever seen. 

The wise old man's saplings yielded repeated gold coin bags.   Zeeba has reaped a big bunch of Gold Medals as a reward for her and her family's hard work.