Lt Gen (Dr) Narendra Kotwal (Retd)
Ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas, Puranas, and Bhagavad Gita provide profound insights into health and well-being. While they do not directly refer to hormones or the endocrine system, their emphasis on harmony, balance, and spiritual practices aligns with modern principles of hormonal regulation. Below is an exploration of these teachings :-
Harmony and Balance in Creation
The Vedas, Puranas, and Gita emphasize balance in creation, resonating with the body’s need for homeostasis.
Rigveda (10.90): The Purusha Sukta describes the balance in cosmic creation, paralleling the balance within the body.
Hormonal equilibrium, like cosmic order, ensures the body functions seamlessly.
Bhagavad Gita (2:48): “Perform your duty with equipoise, abandoning attachment to success and failure.”
Balance in actions mirrors the need for balance in bodily processes, such as hormonal regulation.
Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean): In the Puranas, the story symbolizes the interplay of opposing forces to produce amrita (nectar), akin to the body’s hormonal balance in maintaining vitality and health.
Emotional Regulation and Stress Management
There is emphasis on mental equilibrium, which aligns with reducing stress hormones like cortisol.
Bhagavad Gita (6:5-6): “Let a man lift himself by himself… for the self is his friend and the self is his foe.”
Self-discipline through meditation and mindfulness reduces stress, balancing cortisol and adrenaline levels.
Atharvaveda (19.9.1): “Let your mind be peaceful and tranquil.”
Tranquillity, achieved through meditation, reduces the negative impact of stress hormones.
Puranas: Stories of Lord Shiva meditating for cosmic balance reflect the role of deep reflection in calming the mind and regulating stress responses.
Rest and Recovery
The importance of rest and recovery, critical for hormonal balance, is highlighted in these texts.
Yajurveda (36.24): “May we see with our eyes what is good, hear with our ears what is good, and enjoy a life that is healthy.”
Adequate rest and a tranquil lifestyle align with the regulation of melatonin and cortisol for restorative sleep.
Bhagavad Gita (6:16-17): “Yoga is not for one who eats too much or too little, sleeps too much or too little.”
Moderation in sleep and rest ensures proper hormonal regulation and energy renewal.
Puranas: The cycles of creation and dissolution emphasize the need for rest as part of rejuvenation and balance.
Dietary Practices and Hormonal Health
The texts advocate for a sattvic (pure) diet that supports physical and hormonal health.
Rigveda (10.187.4): “Food is the source of all strength.”
A balanced diet rich in nutrients supports thyroid and pancreatic functions essential for metabolic hormones.
Bhagavad Gita (17:7-9): “The foods which increase life, purify the mind, give strength, health, and joy are sattvic.”
Sattvic foods like fruits, grains, and vegetables ensure hormonal stability, including insulin and leptin balance.
Puranas: Stories emphasize the consumption of pure and sacred foods, linking nutrition to physical and spiritual vitality.
Fasting and Hormonal Reset
Fasting, a practice deeply embedded in Indian traditions, has scientific benefits for hormonal regulation.
Bhagavad Gita (6:16): Advocates moderation in eating, which aligns with fasting practices.
Fasting enhances insulin sensitivity, boosts growth hormone secretion, and reduces cortisol levels.
Vedas: Ritual fasting, such as Ekadashi, provides physical detoxification and mental clarity, akin to modern findings on fasting improving hormonal health.
Puranas: Ritualistic fasting during specific lunar cycles highlights its role in resetting the body’s biological rhythms.
Positive Emotions and Hormonal Effects
Positive emotions, central to these texts, have profound effects on mood-regulating hormones.
Atharvaveda (7.53.1): “Let there be joy, prosperity, and tranquillity.”
Joy and peace increase serotonin and oxytocin, reducing stress and promoting well-being.
Bhagavad Gita (2:47): “You have the right to perform your duty but not to the fruits of your action.”
Letting go of attachment reduces stress and promotes hormonal balance.
Puranas: Stories of divine blessings and victories evoke positive emotions, fostering spiritual and emotional balance.
Fertility and Reproductive Health
Reproductive health is viewed as a divine blessing, regulated by balance in lifestyle and spirituality.
Rigveda (10.85): Hymns celebrating marriage highlight the importance of fertility and the balance of male and female energies.
Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone play key roles in fertility, resonating with the Vedic emphasis on harmony.
Bhagavad Gita (7:11): “I am the strength of the strong, devoid of desire and attachment.”
Strength and vitality depend on balanced reproductive hormones.
Puranas: Stories of divine births reflect the sacredness of reproductive health and the need for purity in thought and action to ensure fertility.
Trust in God and Spiritual Well-being
Trust in divine guidance reduces anxiety and supports overall health, including hormonal stability.
Bhagavad Gita (18:66): “Surrender to Me alone with a whole heart.”
Surrendering to God reduces anxiety, lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels while promoting peace.
Rigveda (1.89.1): “Let noble thoughts come to us from every side.”
Positive spiritual thoughts influence the mind-body connection, promoting hormonal harmony.
Puranas: Stories of faith in divine intervention emphasize mental calmness and resilience, which regulate stress hormones.
Holistic Well-being
The Vedas, Puranas, and Gita advocate a holistic approach to health, integrating the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions.
Atharvaveda (19.60.1): Describes health as the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.
This aligns with modern holistic approaches to hormonal regulation and overall well-being.
Bhagavad Gita (6:5): Encourages self-regulation, stating, “Elevate yourself through the power of your mind.”
Inner discipline harmonizes physical and mental functions, enhancing endocrine balance.
Puranas: Rituals, meditation, and devotion foster a balanced life, aligning spiritual practices with hormonal health.
Conclusion
The teachings of the Vedas, Puranas, and Bhagavad Gita offer a timeless framework for achieving balance in life. Their emphasis on harmony, moderation, and spiritual practices aligns closely with the principles of hormonal regulation in modern science. By integrating these ancient insights into daily life, one can achieve holistic well-being, ensuring the mind, body, and spirit function in harmony.
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