Dr MS Chauhan

Articles

The Articles which have been published on Dr M.S. Chauhan in various magzines all over the world.

Dousing with Crystals
- Dr. Kumkum Srivastava

Dr. M.S. Chauhan has combined the Science of Gem Therapy with the Art of Dowsing to come up with a unique form of diagnosis and treatment The use of gemstones for healing is a very ancient practice.

Gems are used to counteract the effect of the negative planetary influences on the human body. The master glands are the first to be affected due to the imbalance of the planets which in turn effect the plexus or petals in the front of the forehead. This reflects in the blockage of the concerned colour or energy absorption in the spine and chakras (energy centres) from which all the organs draw

energyand nourishment for their proper balance and functioning. As shown in the chart, if the planet, Moon is weak, it will affect the hypothalamus in the brain, which in turn effects the six orange-coloured petals in the front of the head, then filters down to the appropriate centre in the spine effecting the swadhistahan chakra and consequently the related organs to that chakra i.e, intestines, kidneys, bladder and sexual organs. According to the Kurma Purana, all creation is made of rays, radiation and vibrations. Whether it is the substratum of our Universe, which is made up chiefly of nine principle rays or the nine colours of the rainbow (yellow, orange, red, violet, indigo, blue, ultra-violet , infra -red and green ), which form the white light of our solar system; the nine yogic chakras (muladhar, swadhisthan, manipur, anahata, vissudhi, ajna, soma, kameshwari and sahasrar); the nine nuclei in the brain (amygdala, hypothalamus, thalamus, putamen, substancia, nigra, globus pallidus, nucleus caudatus head, nucleus caudatus tail, and sub thalamus), which are controlled by the nine planets, the seven notes of music ( sa, re, ga . ma, pa, dha, ni, sa ), the seven systems of Ayurvedn (chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow; sperm) , the five panchbhutas ( earth, water, fire, air and ether), the five primeval vayus (prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana), n or the five senses (smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing), they all resonate with the nine cosmic colours with their ultra - and infra- frequencies. So, we see that everything in the cosmos is inter- linked and interrelated and it is these universal rays that do the work of creation, maintenance and destruction. In the human body each and every cell, tissue and organ is also the manifestation of the nine Cosmic rays. These nine principle rays also form the substratum of our nine planets. Mars is the condensed form of the colour yellow, moon of orange, Sun of red, Saturn of violet, Venus of indigo, Jupiter of blue, Rahu of ultra-violet, Ketu of infra-red and Mercury of the colour green. These rays have healing qualities. The state, of equilibrium of these rays in the cells keeps the body healthy. These rays are constantly adjusting themselves according to internal and external conditions. Illness occurs when the interaction between outward land inward forces upsets the equilibrium of the rays in the cells and tissues and this makes the rays weak and out of order. These weakened rays can be strengthened by means of colour radiation from gems, as they are natural storehouses of cosmic colours. Colours affect the totality of our being because the colour of a ray is a form of sustenance that is necessary for the health of cells and tissue just as food is for the body. Each colour has a definite wave length with its own frequency and impression. Disease is a ray of wrong frequency that can be cured by another ray that can correct the diseased ray. This is how gems are used and the therapy makes use of the power within nine cosmic colours with their ultra- and infra frequencies to restore the balance in the body. It is because gems are condensation of cosmic rays in their purest form that they are also used in Ayurvedic medicines and in astrology as rings or talismans. They are very powerful storehouses of nature's energy and should be used very carefully and for humanitarian purposes only. The topmost layer of a gem's aura is the healing colour when seen through a prism i.e., yellow sapphire is graded as a blue colour stone belonging to planet Jupiter and not yellow as seen by the naked eye. Each stone of the same colour group oscillates at a specific frequency and these are given to people as per the requirement of the body. If during dowsing a 9kHs stone is indicated, a stone with the same frequency will be given. This is the reason for different stones to be given to different people. It was observed that just the removal of a negative stone brought on a curative effect on the body, like a person who had cancer was asked to remove the negative diamond ring she was wearing, it brought an immediate reversal of the disease in her body, although to complete the cure medicines were also prescribed. About 60% of the cancer cases in women were due to the negative diamond they had worn for a long time. Even keeping the negative gem in the house is harmful to the owner. Unknowingly, people continue wearing gems without cleansing them. The positive gems, however, also absorb negative energies of the body of the wearer in the process of cleansing the physical self. These negative energies can be harmful. Therefore, every gemstone you wear should be cleansed weekly by soaking them in a bowl of water with a pinch of sea salt overnight. One extremely important fact that Dr. Chauhan has discovered through his experiences is that not every gemstone is suitable for healing. For example, if you are meant to wear a diamond, not every diamond will work. Every gemstone can be either negatively or positively charged and hence, instead of being beneficial, a gem with negative qualities can actually harm you. He dowses every single gem he uses to check whether it carries positive vibrations. He can also dowse the jewellery you wear to find out if it is beneficial or harmful to you. What this means is that just buying and wearing a gemstone because your astrologer has recommended it is not enough. You may end up wearing a gemstone that has negative vibrations. This is where dowsing helps, as it is able to identify the gemstones that are beneficial from those which are harmful. The Chakras To understand how gemstones and dowsing work we must understand a few things about ourselves and our universe and how both are inseparably interlinked. Of the 9 chakras, which affect the main organs as depicted in the chart, the first 6 affect the corresponding organs, the 7th and 8th chakras under the control of shadow planets Rahu/ Ketu effect all the organs simultaneously, the last being the Crown which affects the whole body. The master chakras: ajna and vissudhi, in turn control the lower 2 chakras i.e.; muladhar and swadhisthan respectively. Each of these chakras has 'boon giving' residing male and female God (yin and yang). The 9 forms of Durga on the left side are Shailputri, Brahmacharani, Chandraghanta, Khushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. On the right side there is Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Ishandeva, Sadashiva, Ardhanarishwar, Shiva, Shankar and Paramshiva. Each chakra has an inherent vibration, the sound of which is reflected in an alphabet (akshar). These alphabets form beejakshar, which is the basis of formation of mantras that were given by rishis (sages) to people as remedial measures. The supernatural power and vision possessed by rishis enabled them to instantly see the location of the affected chakra/ petal. The combinations of related alphabets (beejakshar) of these chakras/ petals were given as mantras for recitation that immediately brought relief to the ailments. All these beejakshars correspond to 51 Shakti peeths. These peeths are the places where the parts of Lord Shiva's first wife, Sati, fell on Earth. Each created a peeth and a corresponding sound as they fell. Each of the almost sixty akshars correspond to a particular petal of the nine chakras and each also has a corresponding command centre on the front part of the head, which is a part of Sahasrar chakra. It is only when the akshar cannot be recited, i.e., when the patient is in a coma, then in order to revive the patient, a pressure point is applied at the specific command centre of the beejakshar in the head region with a specific instrument made of crystal quartz oscillating at a frequency of 1 to 20 kHz. Dr. Chauhan is, generally accompanied by an aura reader, who can see the visual transformation taking place in the energy field of the patient during the whole process. The aura of a distressed or ailing person becomes shrunken, and after the treatment the aura becomes filled with radiant light. In the case of serious diseases like Cancer, Aids, Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy, Depression and other mental problems, the pendulum is run over the yogic chakras chart to find out the diseased petal of the imbalanced chakra. The patient is asked to chant the beejakshar belonging to that petal several times to correct the imbalance created in the body. It is a very helpful step in psychic or spiritual healing. What is amazing are the immediate results achieved by reciting the beejakshar. Dowsing Now let us come to the art of dowsing. Dowsing is also an ancient art and is a means by which the vibration, of various objects around us can be picked up. Not only do all human beings have their own energv fields and vibrations but every single object gives out vibrations that can be picked up and measured. People have been using the art of dowsing to detect underground water, oil, minerals, metals etc. since time immemorial and have used many different kinds of tools like sticks, metal rods and pendulums of various shapes and sizes. A pendulum can be made of glass, silver or any other metal, crystal, beads etc. He uses a crystal pendulum for dowsing. A dowsing rod or pendulum can pick up vibrations of a specific object as simply as a seismograph picks up signals of earthquakes or an encephalogram picks up brain frequencies. The pendulum works on the principle of magnetism. This magnetic field becomes an omniscient field, and when a query is put to the supra conscious which has all the answers of past, present and future, there are very subtle changes in the electrical frequencies causing the pendulum to move in a certain fashion without the operator’s volition. Dr. Chauhan has designed and constructed a box of electro-magnets arranged in a specific way to eliminate the dowser's dielectric energy that can cause erratic movement of the pendulum. If you are a patient visiting Dr. Chauhan's clinic you will first be seated at a desk facing him and you will place one hand on the flat surface of the magnetic box. Then he will place a square card next to your hand on the box. While he has a number of cards for all sorts of contingencies, he will start with the card titled "Seat of Disease" so that he can diagnose what is wrong with you. This chart contains the names of almost a hundred items such as different diseases, organs of the body that can be afflicted, endocrine glands in the brain that are directly related to the nine planets of our solar system etc. The chart also lists items such as past-life trauma, karmic blocks, hereditary genetic and DNA imbalances and even an item labeled 'ghosts' or condensed negative energy on various levels! Now he holds a crystal pendulum over the magnetic box and it is able to pick up your frequency, also known as radisthenia) from your hand. He then holds the pendulum over the card and asks it to point out the problem that the patient is suffering from. You watch fascinated as the pendulum swings of own volition and finally points to one particular item. He then asks the pendulum if there is any other problem with you and if there is, the pendulum picks it out. In this way the pendulum picks out all your ailments until the pendulum refuses to point out any more but just goes on rotating in a circle. Once your problem (or problems) has been discovered. Dr. Chauhan then places another chart on the box that lists all the nine cosmic colours and asks which one (or more) colour is needed to cure your disease. When the colour is known, the next step is take out a card which covers all the gems that fall under that specific colour and the pendulum is asked to point out the appropriate gem. After this is done the first phase is over, as we now know the problem and the gem that will cure it. Now comes the treatment part. He has a vast collection of gemstones. He has made separate charts, each chart having the entries of gems belonging to a single colour. After the pendulum finds out the appropriate gems you are then asked to hold the gem in your left hand and sit back, relax and see if you feel anything. Very often you at once feel sensation in one or more chakras or in the spine, head or some other part of the body. He then asks you to place your hand once more on the magnetic box. The pendulum is once more held over the first chart (seat of disease) and it is again requested to show you r disease. If the pendulum merely rotates and does not point to any ailment, it means that the gem mu have held on is the right one and the line of treatment is correct. Otherwise, the whole procedure is repeated to find out whether there is need for any other colour. The author is a doctor with an MBBS, D. Ped. (Vienna), MAMS (Aust.)

Conde Nast
TRAVELLER
(April 2008)
Meditation, Yoga & Healing

Dr MS Chauhan (Ph. 2710515; e mschauhan15@yahoo.com), a gem therapist and healer, has carved a name for himself in India and abroad for curing everything from depression to diabetes.

Gem therapy is an ancient, highly complex science and Dr.Chauhan is an expert at ascertaining which stones you should wear to maximise your wellbeing. During a consultation, he uses a crystal pendulum - in another ancient art know as "dowsing" - along with special charts, to diagnose and identify remedies for ailments.

Having dedicated his life to healing, Dr. Chauhan charges no fee, but donations are appreciated when they are cured - but it's up to you).

Life Positive

www.lifepositive.com

DOUSING A PATH TO SPARKLING HEALTH

By Anoopama Nayar

Jaipur-based Dr M.S. Chauhan uses a novel therapy that douses ailments by combining gem therapy with dousing

Legend has it that Lord Shiva created ratna (gems) as a cure for various illnesses on Parvati's insistence. He is believed to have said: "I have created these ratna not only for ornamental use but also to benefit mankind by healing the body."

The story could be apocryphal, but as most myths go it has some basis in reality. This is the assumption on which Dr M.S. Chauhan has amalgamated gem therapy (healing with gems) with dowsing. The result of this unique synthesis is a fascinating form of diagnosis and treatment based on the interrelationship between the individual and the universe.

The Kurma Purana describes all creation as being constructed of rays, radiation and vibrations. The nine principle rays form the nine colors of the rainbow-yellow, orange, red, violet, indigo, blue, ultraviolet, infrared and green. The nine yogic chakras (muladhar, swadhisthan, manipur, anahata, vishuddhi, ajna, soma, kameshwari, sahasrar), the nine nuclei in the brain (thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdla, sub-thalamus, globus pallidus, substancia nigra, putamen, nucleus caudatus—head and tail); the seven notes of music (sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, nee, sa), the seven systems of ayurveda (bile, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, sperm); the panchabhutas (the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, ether), the five primeval vayus (prana, apana, samana, udana, vyana) or the five senses (smell, taste, touch, sight, hearing)—all resonate with the nine cosmic colors and their ultra-and infra-frequencies. Thus, everything in the cosmos is interrelated and these universal rays perform the task of creation, maintenance and destruction.

These universal rays also form the substratum of our nine planets. Mars is the condensed form of the color yellow, moon of orange, sun of red, Saturn of violet, Venus of indigo, Jupiter of blue, Rahu of ultraviolet, Ketu of infrared and Mercury of green. In the human body, every cell, tissue and organ is also the manifestation of the nine cosmic rays. These rays exist in a state of equilibrium within the cells. Illness occurs when the interaction between outer and inner forces upsets this equilibrium by weakening the rays. Color radiation from gems may be used to strengthen these weakened rays, as they are nature's storehouse of cosmic colors.

Colors affect our entire being as the color of a ray is a form of sustenance necessary for the health of our cells and tissues. If there is deficiency of any color, the body organ related to that color will suffer. As each color has its own frequency, a disease might also be a ray of wrong frequency that can be cured by another ray. This is what gems are often used for. Gem therapy uses these nine cosmic colors with their ultra- and infra-frequencies to restore balance in the body. But beware—being powerful reservoirs of energy, gems should be used with a lot of caution.

DIAGNOSTIC DOWSING
Dowsing involves picking up vibrations of surrounding objects. Human beings have vibrating energy fields and so do inanimate objects. People have dowsed with sticks, metal rods and pendulums to detect underground water, oil, minerals and metals by logging into their vibrational frequency.

Pendulum dowsing works on the principle of magnetism. The magnetic field becomes an omniscient field and when a query is put to the Supreme Consciousness—which has all the information of the past, present and future—there are subtle changes in electrical frequencies causing the pendulum to move in a certain fashion of its own volition. Dr Chauhan has designed a box of electromagnets that are arranged in such a way as to eliminate interference of the dowser's dielectric energy. In Dr Chauhan's clinic, a patient is first seated with one hand on the magnetic box. A square card is placed beside the hand. The card titled 'seat of disease' is used to diagnose the problem. This chart lists various diseases, which include past life trauma, karmic blocks, and hereditary and genetic imbalances. It even has an item labeled 'ghosts' for condensed negative energy on various levels.

Next, Dr Chauhan holds a crystal pendulum over the magnetic box and it is able to pick up the patient's frequency (also known as radisthenia) from the hand. He then holds the pendulum over the card and asks it to point out the problem. It is truly fascinating to watch the pendulum swing and finally point to a particular item. Problem after problem is identified until the pendulum refuses to point further and rotates in a circle. The next step points out the color(s) needed for the cure. When the color is known, the pendulum is used to point out the appropriate gem required.

Once the disease is properly identified, the treatment begins. Dr Chauhan has a vast collection of gemstones and medicines prepared from them. He puts a few globules of the required gem medicine on the tongue and the patient is asked to relax. Often, there is a sensation in one or more chakras or in some part of the body. The hand is once again placed on the magnetic box and the pendulum is again held over the 'seat of disease' chart. If the pendulum merely rotates without pointing to any ailment, it means that the medicine just taken is the right one.

An aura reader generally accompanies Dr Chauhan to keep tabs on the transformation in the patient's energy field during the whole process. The aura of an ailing person is shrunken, but after treatment it fills up with radiant light. Dowsing can also be done with a photograph of the patient being placed on the magnetic box. In this case, Dr Chauhan first uses the Condition Indicator card showing all the possible stages of illness and existence of the soul to check the condition of the patient.

According to Dr Chauhan, diseases first appear as imbalances in the planetary configuration and then enter the aura of a person. It then takes three to nine months to affect the various nuclei of the brain and filter down into corresponding organs. He believes that those diseases that are difficult to diagnose might be linked to the past lives of a person and are transmitted through the genetic code into the present. Through dowsing, such diseases can be diagnosed and cured.

DUAL ENERGY
Through his long-standing experience with gems, Dr Chauhan has come to the conclusion that every gem is not suitable for healing. For instance, if one is meant to wear a diamond, not every diamond will work. Every gem or stone can be either negatively or positively charged, so instead of being beneficial a stone with negative qualities can actually do harm. He now dowses every stone before use so that it carries only positive vibrations.

This means that just buying and wearing a precious stone prescribed by an astrologer is not enough. Gemstones are meant to ward off the adverse effects of planets, but what if you end up wearing a stone that has negative vibrations?

This is where dowsing helps, as it distinguishes between beneficial and harmful stones. Due to ignorance, people continue wearing gems without cleansing them. Every gem absorbs negative energies of the body of the wearer in the process of cleansing the physical self. These negative energies can be harmful. Therefore every stone should be cleansed weekly.

www.telegraph.co.uk
Tucked into the urban heart of New Delhi, flanked by jubilant streams of Connaught Circus traffic, is a triangle of calm. Around its edges are pale-grey king palms, furled like umbrellas with green spiked tips, and in the middle are geometrical structures, apparently placed there at random, as if abandoned by a gigantic child.

Energy flow: India is an important spiritual centre
for numerous religions
This is Delhi's Jantar Mantar, or observatory, one of five built across India in the 1720s by the Maharajah Jai Singh II. Had you been there this June, in the smeary yellow pre-monsoon heat, you would have seen three figures: two deep in animated discussion and one skulking in the shade of an oversized azimuth, moodily kicking a pebble.

The first two were Shelley von Strunckel - celebrity astrologer, television presenter and newspaper columnist, syndicated in The Times of India, among others - and her tour guide, Rajiv. The other was me, dispatched by this newspaper to report on her recce for a luxury astrological tour of India, where she has a huge following (the first departure is forecast for autumn next year).

I had discovered that, here at least, journalists are several million rungs below astrologers on the karmic ladder. ("We are so, so honoured to have you with us! Oh, and you.") And my witty preconceptions - that I would be touring India with a classy American version of Mystic Meg and a sackful of crystal balls - had been confounded by the amiable and articulate Shelley. Worse, she and Rajiv were now talking maths.

Karmic chameleon: Shelley von
Strunckel feels the spirit of India
Rajiv: "You see? They needed to know the precise dates of the spring equinox and the summer solstice."

Shelley: "Hmm, designed for the exact latitude, 26 degrees plus 55 minutes north of the Equator."

I, meanwhile, was thinking that a monster sextant - hemispheres of red sandstone and white marble - looked like shards of coconut on a vast plate and that all the instruments, neglected as they were, had an extraordinary sculptural beauty quite independent of their function. Also, that Rajiv knew an awful lot about astrology for a regular Delhi tour guide.

"Astrology is still part of daily life in India," said Shelley, over lunch. "It used to be in Europe: metaphysical and astrological studies were a normal part of education until the scientific revolution in the 18th century. After that, only things that could be measured counted. God, the soul, emotions, they went too."

Then she said that she had to pick up some clothes she'd had made. "I think you'll like it," she mused, sizing me up. "Wanna come?" It was at this point that I began to realise why her tours are going to be a great success.

Instead of the hotel tailor, she'd been to a tiny shop in Central Market (which is about as down-home Delhi as you can get). It was heaving with people; a warren of stalls sold everything from cheery plastic water pots to gol goppa (deep-fried puffed wheat), coloured bindis (forehead dots) and fabulously trashy jewellery. "No Indian woman I know would wear this, but it works in London," she said, bargaining ferociously.

After the altered clothes had been delivered to our hotel in the morning (at no extra charge), off we drove to Jaipur, home to a super-deluxe Jantar Mantar and to India's glittering gem trade. Little boys loomed at the car windows, selling feather dusters and German Ikea catalogues. Beyond were bicycles obscured by bouncing bags and packages, and the slender backs of graceful women sitting side-saddle on scooters.

Shelley flipped open a laptop and called up a chart. It was time for my astrology lesson. "OK, this is a map of the heavens at a certain time in a certain place. The circle with a dot is the sun, which has just risen in England. What time were you born?" Oh God. I knew this was coming. Time of birth is absolutely crucial in India; it determines your future, it defines you, it's the one thing everyone asks about a new baby. And my mother can't remember. She thinks it was 7pm, but it could have been 10pm. She says she was busy at the time. But she is sure I am Taurus. Or is it Gemini?

We focused instead on principles, Western and Eastern, and by Jaipur my head was spinning with lunar nodes (Rahu and Ketu, which in India count as two of nine heavenly bodies), zodiacal ecliptics, the earth's wobble and the precession of equinoxes.

Outside the windows was another universe. Mothy Rajasthani camels swayed past the car like elderly charladies with spreading feet, and flocks of green parrots spurted from the trees. Our hotel was built around a Shiva temple and, that night, the lily pond reflected the moon and Jupiter doing exactly what they were doing on Shelley's chart.

At 7am we were doing pujas as the temple priest washed the symbolic phallus, offered it milk and pink karen flowers, and circled it with burning ghee. At 9am we had an appointment with Dr MS Chauhan of Tonk Road, a dowser who prescribed gems. At 11am we were due at the Jantar Mantar. After that, the gem stores beckoned.

Dr Chauhan worked with a crystal like a fat clear pencil on a string and charts on health and well-being. "How is the subject's health?" he asked the air. The crystal began to swing. "TB in the family?" he said to me, casually, "Parkinson's?" I stared at the words on the final chart. They read Critical, Hopeless, Dying, Dead, Crossing Over.

It turned out I was fine. A lot better than Shelley, anyway. She had possible diabetes, black magic, "drugs in the body" ("Well I was brought up in California," she said. "Don't print that.") and a massive thumbs down for the beautiful blue ring she was wearing.

"But it was made by my guru," she protested.

"Well, it's bad for you. The energy of the stone can't be changed; it was formed millions of years ago."

"He manifested it for me, is what I'm saying," said Shelley, crisply.

"Well, you shouldn't wear it," Dr Chauhan said, with a shrug. She put it straight back on. It was like a scene between rival wizards in The Lord of the Rings.

Then they got started on Saturn (many politicians are Saturn, ie untrustworthy) and birth times ("That's why astrology is failing!") and suddenly they were the best of friends. Dr Chauhan was a sweetie. He gave me a moonstone for my heart chakra, prescribed a rutile peridot for Shelley and hugged us goodbye. "Oh!" she said, "he was wonderful!" Our Jaipur guide, Mr Solani, took us to the Jantar Mantar. The heat pressed down on the instruments and a koyal bird nagged. ("He is yelling a lot, especially in monsoon," said Mr Solani.) A stray dog slipped into a water hole and lay like a tramp in a Jacuzzi, panting for respite.

And then the monsoon arrived. From beneath an arch we watched as rain bounced off sundials, pattered on astrolabes and darkened the yellow stucco walls of the Great Samrat Yantra, a 90ft-tall inclined plane with a covered observatory platform.

We spent the time discussing Mr Solani's jewellery ("My stone should be red coral, but my astrologer advised me for a trouble I was having a yellow sapphire on my second finger.") until the sun came out. Everything began to steam. The Samrat Yantra threw a shadow on to the curved scale beside it - almost accurate by Shelley's watch - and we went to find our star signs. From the Gemini yantra, I could see a man in a red T-shirt moving slowly down the steps of the inclined plane. He looked like a drop of blood.

In the nearby Gem Palace, they knew all about astrology. "Indians buy stones not for beauty, but according to their horoscopes," explained the owner. "A new child always gets a nine planet necklace. The ruby in the middle represents the sun." He opened faded velvet boxes glinting with the wealth of families fallen on hard times, or bored with their jewellery. Not only were stones prescribed by type, he added, but by weight.

I would never have entered a gem shop had it not been for the connection with astrology. And I certainly wouldn't have noticed that the check-in girl at the airport had a yellow sapphire on her index finger or that the baggage handler had a dull metal ring on his third. The holiday company rep glanced at it. "Oh, that's to counteract the effect of Saturn. It has to be made from a horseshoe or a boat nail. The middle finger is the Saturn finger."

It was a different world. Just as the south of India was a different world, lush with paddy fields and cashews, villages of thatch instead of brick, water buffalo instead of camels, and pretty little golden Tamil Nadu cows with painted horns. The girls wore crossandra and jasmine blooms in their hair and our guide, Anjana, pointed out saris in mango-leaf green, chutney green, chilli green; peppermint pink, baby pink, guava pink. The colours of the subcontinent.

We went to see a nine planet temple at Chidambaram and got blessed by the temple elephant in Pondicherry (it deftly removes your proffered coin and taps you on the head with its trunk). Shelley bought lengths of Kanchipuram's famous six-ply sari silk. And Anjana, thrilled to have an astrologer in the car, compared stars, planets, houses, birth signs, predictions and the merits of gems until I fell into a troubled sleep.

Our last stop was Chennai (Madras), where Lakshmi Viswanathan, a respected Indian classical dancer and old friend of Shelley's, was choreographing a nine planet dance sequence. "Muthu Swami Dikshitar, a pandit, composed on all nine planets in Sanskrit," she explained, handing me a copy of her book on Bharatanatyam dance. "In every Shiva temple you will find these statues. Everyone knows the words to these songs."

As one young man beat time with bronze cymbals, another - in a gold silk lungi with gold rays on his forehead, gold jewellery and kohled eyes - spread his fingers like rays, gazed at the moon and made the expressive hand movements known as mudras.

Then it was over. Cymbals and bells died away. Darkness returned. Our flight left at 7am, the traffic was awful and Shelley had a cold. It was as if a door into a more elevated world had slammed shut, to be replaced by the charmless realities of modern life.

On the plane, I asked how she was feeling. Shelley held up Bach's Rescue Remedy in one hand and American pain-killers in the other. "Shows I'm broad church," she said with a grin. "See you in London." With that, she closed her eyes and began to meditate.

Places are available on Shelley von Strunckel's astrology tour of India, departing in October 2005. The 11-day group tour is arranged by Greaves Travel (020 7487 9111, www.greavesindia.com) and takes in Delhi, Jaipur, Chennai and Pondicherry. The price, from £2,195 per person, includes all travel, accommodation on a b&b basis, excursions, transfers and local guide; consultations with local astrologers, gemologists and gem therapists are extra. Greaves can also tailor-make individual trips following the same programme as Shelley's, and including local guides and consultations.
ORGANIC
STYLE
My Spiritual Safari

I wanted enlightenment—without roughing it. So I went to India, met with three wise men (and one woman), and stayed in the best hotels. But instead of a fast fix, I found real revelation. By ANN MARIE GARDNER

Gems and Germs

The helpful staff at the Oberoi Rajvilas Hotel managed to line up two potential gurus for me in Jaipur, the pink, walled city known for its decadent palaces and its precious and semiprecious stones.

My first meeting was with a gemologist. Dr. M. S. Chauhan greeted me in the garden of his modest home with a hug and a warm smile. A handsome man with kind brown eyes, Chauhan is famous for using gems to diagnose illness; he claims to have cured people of cancer.

The gemologist took a quartz crystal tied to the end of a string and passed it over my hand, which he had placed on a box of electromagnets. He would ask the pendulum a question—“What’s the seat of disease for Ann Marie?”—and it would swing back and forth. After several passes, he recited my health history, and he was exactly correct. He told me where my shoulder was injured, which ankle I had broken in high school, that I had low energy. He then revealed that I’d been a Russian ballerina in one of my past lives. It made perfect sense: As a child, I was a natural at ballet.

Chauhan determined that I needed a quartz crystal for energy and placed one in my hand. Immediately, a hot, tingling sensation moved through my body. I felt revitalized, then calm. He said the stone was a gift and that if I wore it forever, my health and emotions would always be balanced. As I left, Chauhan added, “People come here whom I’m destined to meet. You are from the past; we will take care of you.”

That night, I got very ill. I called him and asked whether it was a symbolic release of something inside me. “No,” Chauhan answered. “You’ve got a stomach bug.”

As I lay on the marble bathroom floor of the sumptuous Rajvilas Hotel, I was grateful to be sick in such luxury.
Source :
Organic Style Magazine
page no. 68
Issue : October 2004
The New York Times Style Magazine
Signature
Magazine - JAPAN