Essential Oil – Insect Repellant
Let’s face it mosquitoes, moths, bed bugs, head lice and flies annoy you even though they serve essential functions in nature. Nature kindly provides us with assistance by producing plants whose aroma and essential oils are noxious to these pests. One of the most useful products from Ma’s India is our OM Oil Diffuser made of black soapstone for both indoor and outdoor use. When used outside with citronella or geranium essentials oils, it produces an aroma that keeps mosquitoes at bay more powerfully than candles.…more.
“The Ramayana” – Love Story, Myth, Epic, Spiritual Parable
The Book that Has It All
The Ramayana is the book Ghandi called the worlds greatest. It is well-known world-wide, especially in India and Southeast Asia, but almost unknown in the United States. In northern India, during the annual Ram Lila Pageant, The Ramayana is acted out following a 2000-year-old tradition. Pahari and Rajasthani painters of the 17th and 18th centuries were inspired by the text. The Indian adventure tale is comparable to Homer’s Odyssey, while the Mahabarata, a battle tale, has parallels to his Iliad.…more.
Meditation Music – Using Music to Heal Body & Spirit
Meditation is a tool you can use to transform your life. Its primary purpose is to train and calm your mind so that you can heal your physical self. Meditation is also useful to increase insight into your experiences, which in turn leads to spiritual awareness. When you add music to your meditation time you can significantly enhance the dynamics. …more.
Mantras – The Yoga of Sound
A mantra is a tool you can choose to use to transform your life – physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. Mantras and their use come to us from antiquity. They are a tried and true practice, a part of the yoga of sound, which uses sound to change the vibration of the cells and the vibration of the mind. Sound is a form of energy made up of wavelengths, frequency and vibrations. Sound has a deep harmonizing effect on matter and this principle is applied when repeating a mantra. It is from sound that the mantra gains its power to heal the body or the mind. It is from repeating the name of God that the mantra gains its power to affect us spiritually.…more.
Yoga Videos – Kinesthetic Healthfulness, Peacefulness & Spirituality
The foundation of yoga is that each of us is a spiritual being in human form who is here on Earth to find out who we are – spiritual beings in human form! According to this ancient science, you are composed of the transcendental self (or soul) and the mind-body. Your true identify emerges when these parts are melded into a unified whole. This is the central belief of yoga from which the guiding eight principles (called sutras) flow. …more.
Crystals – Health from within the Earth
Vibrational healing, such as using crystals, is the oldest form of healing on Earth. These ‘medicines’ manipulate energy and direct it into the body rather than working on your cells and organs via physical substances or adjustments. The Gaia hypothesis, formulated in the 1970s, helps us understand that the human body cannot be separated from the earth: what is used by the Earth to heal herself can be used by humans for healing purposes.…more.
The Dark and Light Sides of the Yin Yang Symbol
Taoism, Chinese medicine and feng shui find the concept of yin yang important. When you carefully look at a yin yang symbol you observe the philosophy of non-duality. The outer edge is always a circle with no beginning or end, just as our essence has no beginning or end. The inside is made up of light and dark contrasts (yin and yang) and those different are both contained within the one circle. The contrasting colors are not rigidly divided in a straight line, rather the opposites flow, showing us the balance between yin and yang is constantly moving, eternally flowing from one to the other. Within each side is a smaller circle of contrasting color, to remind us within the dark there is light and vice versa; yin and yang are bound together. To talk about one is to talk about the other; they do not exist independently.…more.
The Earthy Aroma of Tibetan Incense
Making incense is one of the ancient traditional arts of Tibetan monastic orders. The recipes, some of them dating back 2,500 years to the time of Lord Buddha, are kept secret. Among the ingredients used are those that have been blessed in a nine-day ceremony, followed by daily blessings for a year by a meditation master.…more.The Distinctive Scent of Korean Incense
A desire to mask the smell of decaying bodies is what led Korean people to begin using incense. They believe the fumes of the incense alert the spirit of the departed. Another practice in Korea is to use incense to ‘draw’ on rice paper. The incredibly time-consuming process is a contemplative one in which the artist uses sticks of lit incense to slowly burn designs into the paper. The burnt designs have charred edges. These edges create a haunting contrast with the translucence of the rice paper, especially when placed against a transparent windowpane.…more.The Art of Japanese Incense
In Japan, blending incense is considered an art form along the lines of creating an exquisite cup of green tea. The art of creating a perfect Japanese aroma has been perfected over hundreds of years and is practiced by artisans today who manually create their incense. Unlike machine-made Western perfumes that are churned out in vast quantities, the human element is greatly valued in Japanese incense.…more.The Aromatic Memory of Chinese Incense
In China, burning incense is a tradition passed down from ancient worship rituals. The Chinese of antiquity burned certain plants or sacrifices to make heavy smoke. They believed they could communicate via the smoke with the spirits. The earliest records of the use of Chinese incense in Taoist rituals are found in the Annals of the Three Kingdoms. As the practice evolved and became popular, burning Chinese incense became a way for everyone to show respect to the spirit world. The ancient Chinese also used incense sticks as clocks way before other civilizations.…more.The Mystical Fragrance of Indian Incense
The Indian scriptures, The Vedas, provide the oldest source of information about herbalism and incense. The Rigveda and The Athar-Vaveda are the primary references. These scriptures are commonly considered the first phase of Ayurvedic medicine, where we find its more magical and religious approach. The healers were considered a second tier of Hindu priesthood originally. Over time, the herbalists or healers became scorned by the sacrificial priests who claimed they were unclean due to their medical treatment of all classes of people. Around 200 BCE, the second tier priests/healers were prohibited by law from participating in sacred rites. The medical priests then began their association with ascetics and wandering mendicants, among them were the Buddhists. From Pali sources we find that the Buddhists were the principal path for the dissemination, organization and development of the Hindu medical arts. This new phase is considered the classical phase of Ayurveda and is known for its great healers.…more. The Meditative Effect of the Singing Bowl
If you are looking for a method to heal on spiritual, emotional and physical levels, the singing bowl is a classic. Its usefulness in both healing and meditation comes to us from Tibet. Historically the singing bowl is made from a combination of seven different metals. It can be played either by running your hand along the outside of the rim, or by striking them like a gone with a padded mallet or rubbing the mallet around the rim. Each technique creates its own blend of harmonic resonance and rich overtones.…more.Kirtan – Communal Hindu Chanting
Kirtan is the opposite of Western music’s emphasis on performing and projecting outward. This form of Eastern music is internal and immensely personal. Kirtan chanting blends rhythmic repetitions with breath control and meditation. Its purpose is to sooth the inner spirit. Simple percussion and Indian instruments accompany the singers. Kirtan comes to us from ancient Vedic times, handed down orally. It is based on a deep appreciation of the tones and sounds of Sanskrit, which are used for spiritual growth. By singing the names of gods and goddesses, kirtan musicians create vibrations that resonate inside our beings, assuaging stress and making room for universal love.…more.Ganesh
Ganesh is one of Hinduism’s most popular deities. Most recognized for his elephant shaped head, Ganesh is said to be whom worshippers first acknowledge when they visit a temple. His vehicle is a mouse and it is said that between the two they can destroy all obstacles. Ganesh is a popular figure in Indian art. Representations of Ganesh have changed over time. There are times when he is portrayed standing, dancing, playing or engaging in a variety of contemporary situations. We have a large variety of different Ganesh statues here at Ma’s India Spiritual Gifts. No matter what your need, you will certainly find the Ganesh statue that fits you the best.…more.Henna Tattoos FAQ
We often get asked questions about Henna Tattoos. Here are some FAQs with useful answers.
Q. How long does a henna tattoo last on the skin? A. Designs last from one to three weeks on the skin, depending on your body temperature, skin type, body chemistry, lifestyle, and where the henna is applied. The average person gets a stain that lasts 10 days to two weeks.
Q. How long does the paste last??
A. The paste lasts four weeks in the bottle once mixed, if it is kept in the refrigerator. The henna powder stays fresh up to two years if it is kept away from light and moisture.…more.
Buddhism
Buddhism is commonly referred to as a religion in popular culture. The family of beliefs and practices are attributed to the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, or, “The Buddha.” Buddhism remains most popular in Asian cultures, but its reach can be seen all over the world. Buddha is said to have received a profound enlightenment and experienced Nirvana. Since this point hundreds of millions of followers have done their best to follow the teachings of Buddha to experience their own enlightenment. Here at Mas-India.com we have a wide range of Buddhism products available for you to choose from to help you along your journey.…more.
Hinduism
Hinduism is generally considered the world’s oldest organized religion. Over the years Hinduism has grown to become the world’s third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. Hinduism differs from Christianity in the sense that it does not have a single founder, a specific theological system, a single system of morality or a central religious organization. For many centuries Hinduism has evolved from thousands of different religions in the India. Most forms of recognize a single deity, and view other Gods and Goddesses as manifestations or aspects of that supreme God. Hindu texts are considered some of the most ancient religious texts still surviving today.…more.
Christianity
Christianity is a religion that is centered on the life and teachings of Jesus. Followers of Christianity, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the begotten Son of God. Most importantly, Christians believe that Jesus is the savior of humanity who suffered, died and was resurrected for the salvation of sins. Christianity is the world’s largest religion. The Christian faith reaches to all corners of the globe. In the western world, Christianity is the predominant religion. Many believe that Christianity began as a Jewish sect in the eastern Mediterranean in the mid-first century. The early leadership of Christianity was by the Twelve Apostles. Christianity has many different denomination branches under it. Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Restorationism are considered to be the five major denominations.…more.
Islam
Islam is an Arabic religion originating with the teachings of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad was a 7th century Arab religious and political figure that had many followers. There are between 1 and 2 billion Muslims in the world. The exact number is not known. These figures do suggest that Islam is the second-largest religion in the world behind Christianity. There are two major denominations of the Muslim faith, the Sunni and the Shi’a. Islam is the predominant religion in Africa, the Middle East and major areas in Asia, although Islam is gaining in popularity around the world.…more.
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, otherwise known as the Buddha, is generally seen as the founder of Buddhism. Many different oral teachings of Gautama’s were passed down throughout the centuries in verbal formal. These teachings are the backbone of the Buddhism religion. The Buddha spent months per year with monks discussing his teachings. After his death, the monks preserved the teachings to teach others with them in the future. At the age of 35 the Buddha is said to have received “enlightenment.” From this point forward he was then known as the Buddha.…more.
Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi is widely known to be one of the greatest spiritual leaders of modern day India. As a child Maharshi was what you would consider “normal.” He did not show signs of the religious interests that he held close to his heart later in life. It wasn’t until his teenage years that Ramana Maharshi’s life changed in a magical way. Maharshi began devotional visits to a nearby temple. During an afternoon he was visiting his uncle and sitting alone in a room. Alone, a violent fear of death overtook Maharshi. It was this sense of fear that prompted Maharshi to devote his life to self-enquiry. His words, both verbal and written, have touched the lives of thousands since his death in 1950.…more.
Vishnu
Hindu Gods and Goddesses have fascinated followers for centuries. One of the Supreme Gods, Vishnu, is certainly no exception. Vishnu is said to be the “all-pervading” essence of all beings. Vishnu has also been mentioned as the “master” of all things past, present and future. In the Rigveda, the accent collection of hymns, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. Vishnu is often considered to be the preserver of the universe, while Brahma and Shiva are the creator and destroyer of the universe, respectively. Vishnu is usually portrayed as blue or black with four arms extended from his body. …more.
Durga
The Goddess Durga is also commonly known as, “Mother Durga.” Durga is depicted as having 10 arms and is a supremely radiant Goddess. She is often riding a lion or tiger with weapons in her hands. The vast majority of the time Durga is seen maintaining a meditative smile and performing hand gestures with her free hands. Durga is not dependant on anyone or anything. She is known as a fierce, demon fighting Goddess who participates in spiritual battles of epic proportions. Here at Mas-India.com we have some fabulous Goddess Durga products for you to choose from. No matter if you are a beginner, or a Hindu expert, these fabulous gifts are perfect for everyone.…more.
Kali
The Goddess Kali is the Hindu Goddess that is associated with death and destruction. Goddess Kali is a consort of the God Shiva, whose body she is often portrayed as standing on. Goddesses play an important role in Tantra, which is a form of Yoga. The Goddess Kali seems to have a dominant presence in many Tantric texts and rituals. Some even put the Goddess Kali as the highest of all deities. Regardless of her stature, The Goddess Kali is often seen as a four-armed form or a 10-armed form. Kali is described as black, or dark in complexion. Her eyes are often spoken about as being red in rage.…more.