Furthering the mission of revival and promotion of Ayurveda as mainstream 21st century curative therapy, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) organized its “Annual Sharad Purnima Ayurvedic Treatment Camps” to cure as well as prevent long standing respiratory diseases and allergies such as Asthma, Bronchitis, Chronic cough & cold, sinus etc. at various DJJS Centres based in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttrakhand and Madhya Pradesh on 5th Oct 2017. Every year thousands of people from across the country thronged at these camps to reap health benefits.
The “Sharad Purnima” or Kojaagari Purnima or Kumar Purnima or Kaumudi celebration, the sacred Indian festival celebrated on the full moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (September–October), beholds great medical significance. ‘Sharad Purnima’ holds a special significance in Ayurvedic treatment system. Ayurvedacharyas affirms that on Sharad Purnima full moon emits rays which have medicinal and healing properties of nourishing the body, mind and the soul. It is for this reason, traditionally the festival is celebrated by fasting through the day and opening the fast by consumption of a special rice and milk preparation (Kheer) cooked in earthenware or silver vessel in open moonlight. Enriched and fortified by moonlight, Rice Kheer pacifies pitta, is cool in effect, is sattvic and cures the diseases caused by aggravated pitta which a person may confront with the onset of winter. In addition, the festival has great spiritual significance, dedicated to the worship of goddess Lakshmi, a seeker calls upon the mother to bless him with divine qualities.
Under the divine guidance of His Holiness Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji, founder and head of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, Sharad Purnima Ayurvedic Treatment Camps are organized every year on ‘Sharad Purnima’ to revive and extend spiritual, scientific and medical intent of the festival. Wide publicity of the camp was done in advance by DJJS volunteers through distribution of pamphlets, hoardings and announcements. The registration of patients was started fifteen days prior to the Camp.
The event commenced with collective peace prayers and bhajans which serve as relieving medication for the restless mind and prepare the being to reap wholesome health benefits. Patients diagnosed symptomatically with asthma or other bronchial problems were instructed to take diet mainly of fruits and liquids before having medicine and also not to sleep 4 hours before and after consuming medicine. The special Ayurvedic formulation for symptomatic Asthma & other bronchial problems is mixed with the Invigorated and fortified kheer, is distributed to the patients at midnight hour when the moon is overhead. With Om chanting, thousands including men, women, children, first timers, second timers or the regular beneficiaries consumed the medicine with their hearts brimming with faith and prayers. A special cultural- spiritual programs and health awareness sessions were organized till 4 am in the morning for the patients and their companions.
In addition to the medicine, DJJS Sharad Purnima Ayurvedic Camps served as sensitization hubs for building faith and connecting people with the traditional ayurvedic treatment therapies. Special sensitization lectures and presentations were delivered by experts in the field of Ayurveda to raise awareness on Benefits of Ayurveda in 21st century living.
Besides this, it also extends basic health services like free consultancy and diagnosis for all diseases by ayurvedic doctors present in the camp. Facilities such as blood sugar test and blood pressure check-up were also available in the camp. The stalls of Ayurvedic medicines & products manufactured at ‘Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ayurveda Pharmacy’ were also placed at the camp for the ease of the gathering. A large number of health seekers from all walks of life and age visited to inquire and buy these well-researched ayurvedic products and medicines.
The program got huge print media coverage in various newspapers - Dainik Savera, Punjab Kesari, Jag Vaani, Dainik Jagran, Front Page, Rajasthan Patrika etc.
