Sesame is used in villages for auspicious occasions, rituals, religious sacrifice and marriage ceremonies due to it's religious and mythological importance. It is included in the rituals of gods and death ceremonies of ancestors and is supposed to protect from bad spirits and devils.

Spinach is an extremely beneficial and tasty leafy vegetable. Spinach is found in all the parts of India and it is cooked in many different ways. In some places, people cook it along with potato and eat it in the form of dry vegetable, and in some places it is boiled, grinded and cooked with onions, garlic, tomato etc. Whatever may be the style of cooking, spinach is a healthy food. It is also cooked with the leaves of the rapeseed plant (sarson). This combination is very delicious and makes the spinach even more beneficial and healthy.

Vedas, on one hand describe the spirituality, philosophy, nature, devotion and results of actions; on the other hand they also talk about discipline, policies, education, physics, social structure, nation and nationality.

Bandh stop the flow of energy in some parts of the body and flow it in other parts. This massages the internal organs and removes the accumulation of the blood. Bandh regulate the nerves of the particular organ, which prevents sickness. The Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra glands produced with the flow of prana (life) in sushmana nerve arouse with the bandh, which develops spiritual energy.

How do we control our thoughts? Controlling thoughts does not mean not to have any thoughts in our mind at all. Thoughtless situation is dangerous. In the initial stage controlling thought means, practicing to let noble thoughts arise and stopping evil and false thoughts from creeping in. Always remember one thing, if you want to win over the evil thoughts, then the only way is to check them from different angles, think about them and drive off the evil thoughts and inculcate positive and noble thoughts.

The energy that flows out of our body through Yog asana, pranayam and bandh is stopped and taken in. bandh means to stop, controlling. These bandhs are very helpful in pranayam. Pranayam is incomplete without these bandhs. Here the different bandhs are being described.

Query - It is true that the practice of resources useful for the removal of the conditions of the mind leads to deep meditation without contemplation. But some people are able to reach this stage with out any resources. Who are those people? What is the reason?

In the previous issue, Swami Ji had described the medicinal values of carrot in the article titled "Qualities of Carrot". Here he is giving detailed information about the best ways of eating carrot.

It is the highest stage of asceticism, which is relieved from satva, raj and tama qualities when the soul meets with its self.

The actions or deeds, which are done after the birth of the child, are known as birth (Jatkarma) ceremonies. It is called ceremony because it involves some ceremonies which are performed after the birth of the child other than the actions. The main objective of these actions is to inculcate some values in the child even while he is ignorant about there importance.

The fifth ceremony after Jatkarma ceremony is called naming ceremony. In this ceremony the child is given a name. All the activities in the world are carried on the basis of name. Every parent has the duty to give a nice name to the child, which reminds the child of some goal or objective in the life. It is very important to select a nice name for the child; the name should be meaningful which fulfills all the desires of the child. Whenever the child hears the name he will remember the meaning and purpose hidden in it and will be inspired by its meaning.