03/16/98 - 1698

The Jiva Institute Newsletter

India (VNN) - Published by Jiva Institute, Faridabad, Haryana,
India (http://www.jiva.org)
March 16, 1998

Namaskar,

This is a periodic newsletter from Jiva Institute. Here you will find news on Indian topics related to education, health (Ayurveda) and culture.

GEOMETRY INVENTED IN INDIA
The word 'Geometry' seems to have emerged from the Indian word 'Gyaamiti, which means measuring the Earth. The word 'Trigonometry is similar to the word 'Trikonmiti', meaning measuring triangular forms.

Euclid is credited with the invention of Geometry in 300 BCE while the concept of Geometry in India, emerged in 1000 BCE. The treatise of 'Surya Siddhanta' in (4th Century CE) describes amazing details of trigonometry which were introduced to Europe 1200 years later in the 16th Century by Briggs.

THE VALUE OF 'PI'
The ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle in known as Pi, which give its value as 3.14592657932. The old Sanskrit text Baudhayana Shulba Sutra of the 6th Century BCE mentions this ratio as approximately equal to 3.

Aryabhatta in 499 BCE worked out the value of Pi to the 4th decimal place, as 3 (177/1250) = 3.1416. Centuries later, in 825 CE, the Arab mathematician, Mohammed Ibna Musa, said that "this value 62832/20000 has been given by the Hindus (Indians)".

THE PYTHOGORAS THEOREM OR THE BAUDHAYANA THEOREM The so-called Pythagoras Theorem- the square of the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle is equal to the sum of the square of the other two sides- was worked out earlier by Indian mathematicians.

In Baudhayana Shulba Sutra, a treatise dating back to the 6th Century BCE, it is described that "the area produced by the diagonal of a rectangle is equal to the sum of the area produced by it on two sides."

SYMPOSIUM ON VEDIC ASTROLOGY
A workshop on Vastu Sastra presented by B. Niranjan Babu, publisher of The Astrological Magazine, was the highlight of a six-day fifth International Symposium on Vedic Astrology held
in San Diego, California, recently. It was sponsored by the Institute
of Vedic Astrology, American Council of Vedic Astrology and the American Institute of Vedic Studies.
It was for the first time the Vastu Sastra (the Vedic science of architecture) was discussed at this symposium series. Babu dwelt on various aspects of building construction as contained in the Vedic Vastu Sastra system.
The symposium was attended by more than 300 people.

LAUNCH OF ELEMENTARY SERIES COMPUTER BOOKS (I to V)
Jiva Institute is pleased to announce that Jiva's Elementary Series books, "Computers for Kids" is ready. These books are written by Jiva's Educational Director, Mr. Steven Rudolph and Meenakshi Chauhan, and follow the concept of Computers as a Resource. The books are based on an innovative computer syllabus, which covers a wide range of skill areas, including fundamentals of computers, mousing and keyboarding, applied computers, computer values and behavior, multimedia, art skills and Internet skills. Each "Computers for Kids" book goes along with software designed by Jiva Institute.

SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES
The "National Progressive Schools Conference" had organized an all India conference on the occasion of the combined celebration of its silver jubilee and the golden jubilee of India's independence. The theme of the conference was "Partnership in Education". Mr. Steven Rudolph was a lead speaker in one of the sessions on 20th February, 1998 and the topic of discussion was " Computers as a tool for learning". Nearly 85 Principals and teachers from leading schools were present for the event.

The USIS (United States Information Service) organized a seminar at the American Center Library on the 18th of Feburary, 1998. Dr. Richard Sweeney Halsey from New York spoke on 'Cirriculum Development and policy in Computer Education'. Jiva's Educational Director, Mr. Steven Rudolph lectured on 'The Use of Internet and Information Technology in Schools'. The event proved to be successful for Jiva in spreading the concept of "Computers as a Resource". We are receiving phone calls from schools from all over India, for teacher training and similar seminars to be conducted in their respective schools and more queries are coming regarding implementing the Jiva Learning System in schools.

Jiva also delivered a seminar in Hamdard Public School, who want to implement the Jiva Learning System in their school at Delhi and also in one of the branches at Karachi. A number of other schools including Yadvindar Public School, Chandigarh and DAV School, Faridabad, have organised such seminars for their teachers.

USIS APPROVES JIVA'S $60,000 PROJECT
USIS had confirmed the proposal given by Jiva on the "Eco Friendly School Project" for support under Indo - American Environmental Leadership Program.

Cyber television has asked Jiva Institute to make a Computer based T.V show in which the program will focus on non-formal method of interactive learning and making learning more of fun than education.

COME WORK WITH JIVA IN INDIA
In our previous news letter we had asked you if you are interested in working to improve computer education in India. In our efforts to achieve our goals we at Jiva require text book writers and content developers for innovative computer text books which are revolutionary in their approach. We also require people for planning and developing of environmental activities as recently we have collaborated with USIS and will work for Indo American environment projects for school children to bring awareness among them.

Our requirement is also for people who can write computer based T.V Shows which has to be both educative and entertaining, editors, academic teachers, computer art and graphics, software programming.

In addition we need people who would like learn Ayurveda or get training under Dr.Partap S. Chauhan. All such people may kindly write to Dr. Partap (partap@ayurvedic.org), for further information.

We would like to know how you would be able to contribute after going through our requirements. We would also like to know what will be your requirements and for how long would you like to stay in India and what are your expectations from us in return to your contribution? If you've ever dreamed of working in India, perhaps this is your chance.

AYURVEDA COURSES ON INTERNET ( LEVEL 2)
The level 2 of our Ayurvedic Online course will begin from April 20, 1998.
Those who are interested to join should write to our Ayurvedic College
Online (info@ayurvedic.org)

The level 1 has started on March 9 and will go on till April 6, 1998. Those of you who could not join may still join if you think you can catch up. We have posted the second lecture today.

MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS: AN AYURVEDIC VIEW
BY DR. PARTAP S.CHAUHAN
During my interaction with people over the internet, I have been asked some interesting questions about milk and milk products. I have heard different views on whether milk is good or not good for our system. Recently I have heard that there was some new research which says that milk is only beneficial for children. It is difficult for me to comment on the topic according to modern scientific view, but as an Ayurvedic expert, I thought it will be nice to share the Ayurvedic view on milk and milk products.

According to Ayurveda, milk is considered as an important part of diet. "Astang Sangraha" an ancient text of Ayurveda has a complete section, "Ksheer Varga" , which describes about Milk and milk products.

QUALITIES OF MILK:
1. Milk has a sweet taste (Rasa).
2. It increases the "Ojas" which is considered to be the essence of all the "dhatus" (the tissues). So it also nourishes the seven "dhatus" (tissues).
3. Milk decreases Vatta and Pitta but increases "Kapha".
4. Milk is said to be a good "Vrishya ", which means it increases the the "Shukra dhatu" (the reproductive tissue). In other words we can say that milk is a good aphrodisiac.
5. Milk increases the Kapha dhatu and is heavy to digest, so one should not take cold milk as it tends to be more heavy. Milk should always be taken hot or warm and after boiling.
6. Milk is cooling in nature (shita virya), which means it has a cooling effect in the body. So it is good to take milk in the diseases caused by Pitta.

Amongst the eight types of milk mentioned in Ayurveda, cow's milk is said to contain the best qualities. Cow's milk is rejuvenating (Rasayna). It increases the various tissues, increases memory and immunity. It is easily digested and absorbed in the body. It is specially good for mothers who are breastfeeding their babies.

QUALITIES OF YOGURT:
1. Yogurt is sour in taste.
2. It is has a binding quality (Grahi). For this quality it is generally used as a supporting medicine in diarrhea and dysentry.
3.Yogurt is heavy to digest and heating in nautre.
4. It decreases Vata and increases Kapha ,and Pitta .
5. It also increases the blood and reproductive fluids (dhatus) in the body.
6.Yoghurt made from the creamless milk is good in intestinal disorders like Sprue, Indigestion and flatulence.
7. It is good to take yogurt with honey, pulses (beans), and Amla (emblica officinalis).

CONTRA-INDICATIONS:
1. Do not eat hot yogurt.
2. Avoid eating too much yogurt in spring and winter.
3. Yogurt should not never be eaten in the night or dinner.
4. Ayurveda also advises that one should not eat yogurt everyday. That may cause blockage of circulatory channels (srotas).

QUALITIES OF BUTTER:
Ayurveda mentions that fresh home made butter is the best form of butter and it posseses the best quality.
Fresh butter has sweet, a little sour and bitter taste.
1. It is helps in disorders caused due to Pitta, andVata. It is also good for curing skin diseases and diseases caused due to impure blood.
2. It has a binding quality (grahi). For this reason, one should not eat too much butter as it causes blockage of the circulatory channels (srotas).
3. It is good for memory, increase immunity and increases "shukra dhatu" (reproductive fluid).

QUALITIES OF GHEE:
I am sure most of you are familiar with "ghee". Ghee is a clarified form of butter which is obtained by heating the butter. Ghee is commonly used in many Indian recipes and is also used in various
Ayurvedic medicines.
1. Fresh Ghee is good for mind , intelligence and memory.
2. It increases the digesting fire and thus helps improved digestion and assimilation of the food.
3. It nourishes the body tissues (dhatus) and also increase the vital fluid known as "Ojas".
4. It is useful in the diseases of Vata andPitta. It is also used in the treatments of poisoning cases, and chronic fevers.
5. It is used as a main ingredient in different ear and eye disorders and is used for healing wounds.

So this is a brief description about milk and some of the milk products mentioned under the "Ksheera varga" (Milk products) head
in the Ayurvedic texts. I have given the Ayurvedic view. I leave it for you to compare the Ayurvedic view with the modern research, if you know any. Who knows, you might come up with some new research! :-)

Please feel free to contact me for any further questions.

So till we meet next, enjoy drinking a cup of hot cow's milk everyday!

Dr.Partap S. Chauhan.

For all ayurvedic queries contact :

e-mail: partap@ayurvedic.org
Voice: ++91-129-296174
Fax: ++91-129-295547

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