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Princess Gouri in her forth talk with Zuzana explains, that happiness is a state of mind, which we all would like to achieve.
Oh. I have no idea! But I believe, that that treasure is in everybody, in every human being. It is the inner treasure, which you have to look for and find it. And if everyone looked and found it, we would be living in utopia - it would be bliss and everybody would be happy!
THE TRAVANCORE ROYAL FAMILY is the ruling house of the Indian princely state of Travancore. The family lost the ruling rights in 1949 when Travancore Kingdom merged with the Indian Union and their privileges were abolished by a constitutional amendment in 1971. The Travancore Royalty could be also considered descendants of the ancient Cheras, Ay-Venad, Pandya and Chola dynasties, due to consistent intermarriages with these lines over the centuries. The Travancore royals are among the rare breed of royals who follow the matrilineal system.The members of the family are based in Trivandrum, Kerala and are the ones who keep alive the traditions and rituals of their ancient dynasty including the upkeep of the famous Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple. Read more >>
You can look for it! Maybe some people will find some, some people will find a lot, and some people find none. That is up to each individual.
I would like to believe in it… but happiness is a state of mind, which we all would like to achieve. But it is not that easy, when you try to put it in the practice. For example Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1813 - 1846). He had a very unhappy life. His wife died young. His son died. He had an unhappy relation with the British. His mother died, when he was a small boy, but he was born to be a king, so he never could have a normal childhood. He could not played like other children; he had to be always conscious, that he had to be a king. So you cannot say he had a very happy personal life, but he was able to sublimate all his frustration and unhappiness through his music, his devotion to attain a state of bliss. So it is not impossible, but if we are all capable to do it that way – I do not know. It is individual thing.
The power of art is your strength of mind. Some people are more strong, some are less strong. Let’s say for an example - someone cries very easily - it is natural mistake to assume, that the person has more sensitivity and more feeling. A person, who cannot cry, can have equal feelings, but may not be able to express it.
SWATHI THIRUNAL RAMA VARMA
(1813 - 1846)
Was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore, British India. He is also considered as a brilliant music composer and is credited with over 400 classical compositions in both Carnatic and Hindustani style. A well-formulated code of laws, courts of justice, introduction of English education, construction of an observatory, installation of the first Government printing press, establishment of the first manuscripts library were amongst the many initiatives taken by Swarhi Thirunal, as a King, to modernise Travancore.
It was very interesting, when I did Art of Living meditation concept.
Normally they tell you, bring your mind to one point, focus on any one mantra or image, but there they said, let your mind go free, because the mind is the most difficult to control.
You can sit on your chair, put your hands in your lap - you can do it, but if they tell you to control your mind, bring it to one point for 5 minutes, you can not even do it for 5 seconds. Because the moment you decide to focus for example on this camera - your mind will go anywhere, but not the camera! The human mind is 'monkey mind'…
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SWATHI THIRUNAL RAMA VARMA
Well, I suppose everything is in some form of art. Even when somebody massages!
We had a very old Ayurvedic physician. He was actually my husband uncle. He lived to be 101! He never went into the hospital, had no diet, no surgical intervention. Only he had hardship to hear. He would said, when you massage, there is an art of the massage. He would show, just with two thumbs. He would say, it should go in the patterns. The same way he always advocated for two people to massage one person, so the pressure on both sides would be equalled and simultaneous. He recommended keeping oil in the certain temperature or way of lightening the lamp and etcetera, that is an art, is not it?
Everything! It is all art! It is all interlinked. Everything has to be good, your digestion has to be good, your breathing has to be good. You cannot be happy, if you cannot breath properly or your stomach is upset.
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Read next chapter of THE TALK WITH PRINCESS GOURI Nº5
The Travancore Kingdom Royalty are considered the descendants of the Gods and ancient Cheras, Venad, Pandya and Chola dynasties, who brought the philosophy of ayurveda to the world.
Founder & Director of Ayurveda Trails, healing collection of (extra)ordinary people and their stories, whose experiences are transferred into various trails shared by travelers.
He calls himself The Lone-traveller. In section about him is written: Don’t have a clue yet. He silently stalks Kochi Muziris Biennale artists and transform their visions into photographs.
Ajay met his true passion in photography when he started traveling around Kerala, where nature is at its best. With his eye for detail he captures moments without losing its real essence, in a way of his own.
VISHU FESTIVAL
NEW YEAR IN KERALA
The Malayalam word kani literally means that which is seen first. The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences, that the New Year will be better if one views auspicious joyful things as the first thing on Vishu.
10 REASONS WHY AYURVEDA TRAILS ARE DIFFERENT
Ayurveda trails is using the symbol of mudra as reminder, healing is in your hands. We are creating a small collection of highly specialised ayurveda resorts run by passionate ayurveda experts, who want to keep authentic healing knowledge for modern world.
What is ayurveda? How is this ancient medical system connected with yoga, meditation, healthy food, relaxation in nature and modern life style? Ayurveda Trails is dedicated to everyone, who would like to travel and search answers to these questions.
NAVARATRI
Festival of Nine Goddesses
Navaratri is a nine night festival that honors the Mother Goddess in all her manifestations. The worship, accompanied by fasting, takes place in the mornings. Evenings are for feasting and dancing. Each day has a different ritual associated with it.
ONAM
The Harvest Festival in Kerala
Onam is the most popular festival in Kerala. It can be traced to the primitive harvest festival and also to the myth regarding King Mahabali - the benevolent asura ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his country. It is celebrated in August and September.
The importance of the feast to the Kerala's Onam celebration culture is captured in the famous Malayalam proverb: Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam - which means: One must have the Onam lunch even by selling one's property, if need be.
MANALTHEERAM AYURVEDA BEACH VILLAGE
Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village, gives you an opportunity to pamper yourself with a heavenly experience. Enter the world of holistic healing and let Ayurveda and meditation restore your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional equilibrium.
MANALTHEERAM
Dr. Hemalatha Manoj
In Manaltheeram, we believe, that Ayurveda is a divine science of life, our hands should be pure to treat a patient. Sometimes we are not able to cure every one but it is important not to make any mistakes from our hands. We pray to God.
Somatheeram, the world’s first Ayurveda hospital set in a resort ambiance to provide Ayurveda healing and treatments programmes. With its exotic tropical beauty and tranquil hospitality, this getaway is the perfect place for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The World’s First Ayurveda Tourist Resort: Baby Mathew, in 1985 together with his brother Dr.Pauly Mathew, has founded the world’s first ayurveda tourist resort Somatheeram in Kerala. How has this journey started?
Cliff View Ayurveda Retreat is built in the Bauhaus style, which aims to reunite fine art and functional design, creating practical objects with the soul of artworks. The resort embrace the philosophy of traditional Ayurveda in modern style.
HARIVIHAR HERITAGE
Dr. Sri Kumar
Harivihar, abode of the divine, is a 170 year old painstakingly restored royal heritage homestead located in Calicut. It offers unparalleled experience of staying in a heritage ambience and benefit from the goodness of Ayurveda and Yoga, two great contributions of India to mankind.
I hesitated for publishing this story quite late, but there’s a beauty in rewinding. Makes me appreciate how all those days have become of me. The clever fall of dominoes of life events that led me to still standing. A very happy new year to all!
SwaSwara means your inner voice, this is a place of natural harmony to release, refocus and recalibrate the self. Inspired by the first sound of creation, the resort in Gokarana on Aum Beach is a perfect setting to enable one to hear the voice of the inner self.
Green gram is a powerhouse of nutrition. It has high nutritive value and can be consumed by anyone for improving health. Hence, this superfood is one of the most vital detoxifying agent as well as an energiser that helps to enhance the immunity of the body.
KAIRALI - THE AYURVEDIC HEALING VILLAGE
There is no better place to get inside nature and rejuvenate with natural medicine than the sweet scented forests of Kerala's Pala trees. Time spent at this jungle paradise will allow you to experience the authentic healing practices of India.
