Finding the Fountain of Youth

On my last trip to India in July, I made an interesting discovery. I was visiting with a trader I know in Bangalore, I'll call him Jay. He often has very unique and interesting items. In South India, unique is quite different from unique in New York.

On previous visits with him, I have acquired what to Westerners would be simple river stones, but to serious devotees of Krishna, are the actual manifestations of the Lord Vishnu, and are called shaligrams. I'll post a picture here, but save more on shaligrams for a later blog. I have also picked up massive Shiva Linghams and all kinds of blessed objects.

So I was sitting in his little shop, and his helper was pouring me tea and offering me sweets, we were talking for hours. He would bring out one power object after another, basically things that hold positive power. Some were too expensive and some I had seen before. I kept asking him if he had anything else.

Finally he turned and brought out a carved wooden box and placed it in front of me. He asked, "Have you ever heard of Navapashanam"? I had heard of rumors of Navapashanam but like most seekers of magic objects, thought I would never come across one.

Thousands of years ago, the word "Siddha" originated in South India. "Siddha" refers to a being who has achieved a high degree of spiritual and physical perfection or enlightenment. The ultimate demonstration of this is the attainment of immortality. A Siddha has realized the goal of a type of Sadhana (spiritual practice) and become a perfected being. Individuals on the path to that assumed perfection must ingest special Rasayanas (alchemical elixirs) to perfect their bodies; this allows them to sustain prolonged meditation & pranayama practices.

Navapashanam is considered the highest possible Rasayana, making it the most sought-after "secret" of the Siddhas. In Sanskrit, "nava" is 'nine' & "pashana" is 'poison.' The word refers to the nine basic elements that combine to create a human body.

Rumored to have been first created 5100 years ago - by Siddha Bhoganathar - (also known as Bhogar) - the exact composition of Navapashanam remains a mystery. But the story was that Bhogar foresaw a time in the future, (our time) when strange diseases would ravage the earth, and so created Navapashanam. That it was a kind of "fountain of youth".

At 53 years old, I had to have it.

We struck a deal. I brought back some Navapashanam beads with me, and it seems that the bead I am using and wearing is having some effect. Its kind of amazing. People are always commenting that I look younger (maybe it's a new haircut?), and I do feel "rejuvenated." Some darker hairs are coming in and replacing some grey ones... Well we will see what happens, but so far so good.