Kuti Praveshika Rasayana
Intro
Everybody wants to live a long and healthy life. Despite this fact being embedded in our system, there is not much we do about it. Moreover, with time the inclination to a much unhealthier lifestyle is much higher. We are ready to take the easy way out for many a hurdle in our life.
There is much debate about the concept of Sensory Inhibition and its impact on the human body. Sensory inhibition is in fact practiced in multiple forms across the world. However, this topic has not seen the light of the day more so because of the hardships one goes through to practice it. But the benefits of this body purification system is incredibly drastic, long lasting and unbelievably worthy of the effort. They say the fruits are borne by those who put rigorous and whole hearted effort and this is precisely what sensory inhibition does to one’s body.
Ayurveda scripts also talk about a similar treatment form, more rightly called the Rejuvenation and Revitalization Therapy. It includes a rigorous procedure but what is surprising is the outcome that has been experienced by several maharishis(Saints) of the time. There have been texts stating that the saints who practiced this treatment called Kuti Praveshika Rasayana, they reversed the process of ageing, extending life spans for up to 180 years with complete functionality and flexibility. Moreover, the process healed existing ailments and rejuvenated the body from its very core.
Ageing is an ongoing process that takes places in the human body. It cannot be stopped or reversed. But of course premature ageing can be controlled. Rasayana Chikitsa (regeneration therapy) aims at this. This is possible by promoting rejuvenation, healing, and regeneration of living tissue in the body and for this Kuti Pravesika Rasayana of Ayurveda is relevant.
This unique class of therapy enhances the life span, delays aging, improves the intelligence and memory power, promotes health, provides youthful states of the body, betters the body luster and voice, improves the efficiency of the different cognitive abilities and enhances the innate health. It also reverses the disease process and prevents the re-occurrence. Rasayana replenish the vital fluids of our body, thus keeping us away from diseases.
What is KPR?
Kuti Praveshika Rasayana is isolation from the outside world entirely along with giving all sensory points in the body complete rest. All senses such as sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch are given a break from the daily activities. The minimum procedure time is 4 weeks and can go on for months. A cleansing process is followed by the isolation procedure. During the isolation all aspects required to inhibit the senses are incorporated. During the stay within a hut specially designed for this, a diet of milk and ghee[clarified butter made from the milk of a buffalo or cow, used in Indian cooking] and no solid food. As per evidence, the results are mostly evident on the day of leaving the kuti (hut) itself. The blanket of age seems to have been lifted off, dead skin and years of damage is cleared off and overall the body weight is reduced and looks right for the age.
How is it performed?
The process is reasonably long and engaging and requires die hard commitment. It has been broken down for clarity and understanding below:
Before undertaking a procedure this involving, it is advisable to prepare oneself for the days to come. Usually, KPR is isolation for a month or more and therefore, there is a need to slowly reduce the frequency of the usage of mobile phones, laptops and all other social fronts including actual act of meeting people or going out. When this is practiced gradually, before hand, the transition to the kuti lifestyle is easier in comparison.
The first procedure is to dedicate at least a month’s time to P-
The next step is Virechana or purgation which includes procedures to induce bowel movement using laxatives.
Next step is called Nasyam, nose is the gateway to head as per Ayurveda, a process of medicine intake through the nasal passages to clear the passage.
This is followed by Vasti, which is medicine intake through the anal passage to clear the reproductive genitourinary and digestive system off the toxins.
At a suitable stage, Raktamoksham or letting out of the blood is performed. Venous punctures on the surface of the skin help release all the toxic or impure blood from the body.
Before getting inside the kuti, a pathyam (regimen) needs to be followed. The Ayurveda lifestyle includes vegetarian food, routine, hot water consumption and no sleeping during the day or exercising. It’s crucial to fall into this pattern at least gradually to make sure that at the Kuti, one is not overcome by the complete rest in the kuti. A lot of mental preparation goes behind undertaking the procedure.
Kuti praveshika rasayana(KPR)
At this stage you enter a building in the shape of a hut where in the innermost sanctum of a 3 layered structure is devoid of light or sound. The temperatures are automatically maintained owing to the unique style of construction. The only form of human contact will be when meals are served twice a day, hence causing inhibition of touch.
Inhibition of taste is done by the food regimen followed on all days of the kuti stay. A portion of Amalaki rasayana and milk from the Vechur cow (a native breed believed to produce medicinal milk owing to its consumption of herbs only) are the only things that form the meal, twice a day. There are various options of Rasayana that is suitable and can be implemented varying from person to person.
Over time, one’s body gets adjusted to the body clock and a routine is developed. Most people in the ancient time resorted to chanting or praying (tapasya) during the day to keep them engaged.
What are the benefits?
The benefits are in fact plenty and vary from person to person. The differences in fact are also dependent on the number of days spent at the kuti. Visible changes include:
- Defying age. Reduction in metabolic age.
- Curing of skin problems
- Less stress
- Routine in life
- Healthier diet, better digestion and high immunity
- Reduction in fatigue and ability to add more productive hours to a normal day
- Better concentration and attention span.
- Better and sharper memory.
- All internal functions are corrected
- Thicker and more luscious hair growth
- Loss of additional body fat. Body is brought to the correct weight for age and height.
- Better seminal quality and improved count(for men)
- Mental changes. The experience makes one realize the value of a lot of things they take for granted hence leading to better spiritual and mental understanding.
- Addiction control
KPR at athreya
Athreya Ayurvedic Resort in Kottayam, Kerala is the only known resort to practise and propagate KPR under the expert guidance of Dr. Sreejith. Dr. Sreejith underwent KPR himself at Karnataka and understood and researched each and every facet about the procedure before building a kuti in Athreya resort. The kuti adheres to every norm about Vastu and procedure as per ancient texts to ensure the temperature and lighting in the innermost sanctum is perfect.
At Athreya, Dr. Sreejith propels an interested guest in the right direction mentally and physically to undertake the task. He uses his own example to make guests aware of each and every fastidious fact about the procedure. He mentally readies the guest to be able to live in isolation for a long duration.
The resort’s farm has Vechur cows for the special milk used in the procedure.
For undergoing the Kuti praveshika Rasayana, the patient has to be in best health mentally and physically. Prior to this, a Panchakarma therapy of at least two weeks is obligatory to detox the body completely and also purify and prepare the mind for the Kuti praveshika Rasayana.
Afterwards the patient stays in the Kuti for a time period of at least 30 days. The reduction of outer influences is not only referred to the darkness and the weather conditions, but also to the minimal personal contact to the outside world. During this time, the contact is held exclusively by the close medical consultations with the doctor as well as the daily provision of the customized herbal rasayana diet. Also fresh bed linen and clothes are provided on a daily basis.
The remaining time of the day, the patient stays alone in the innermost treatment room of the Kuti, meditating , chanting mantra or prayers or doing some light walking as exercise. As a minimal source of light, a covered candle can be used. The patient can also bring own music or audio books into the Kuti to support this unique time of contemplation and focus.
Kuti praveshika Rasayana is a challenging therapy for the body as well as the mind – not only in the exact execution, but also for the patient himself. Not everyone is suited as participant and not every timing is the right time for a participation. Therefore, a comprehensive and honest consultation with Dr. Sreejit is crucial for the success of this highly effective regeneration therapy.
Kuti at athreya
The hut (kuti) is made of brick walls and thatched leaf roofs or tiled roofs to maintain the temperature inside. The kuti is divided into 3 concentric square spaces. The window placements are such that from each layer, penetration of light is minimal. The outermost layer has narrow windows very close to the ceiling. The second wall has narrow windows which are nearly touching the floor. And the final layer, once again has windows touching the roof. This way, the innermost sanctum remains pitch dark to provide complete vision inhibition. With the concentric wall formation, outside noises are reduced largely causing hearing inhibition. Smell is also blocked off as the structure is situated at a place where there can be no external smell which is strong enough to cause much damage to the procedure. This thoughtfully recreated structure is a result of extensive research and extreme precision.
Case study
Dr.Sreejit holds the rare distinction of being the first Ayurvedic physician in recorded history to have fully documented KPR in all available means and also performed kirlian photography before & after KPR and having monitored and observed the benefits for 2 years .He is indeed the first Ayurveda physician to have photos , videos and documented in modern parameters the KPR to bring to light the magical effect of this nearly lost therapy. As of, 2014 he is the youngest recorded person to undergo the treatment.
TapaswijiMaharaj is said to have lived 185 years. He learnt the protocol from a yogi in the Himalayas and performed KPR on himself thrice. He eventually handed over the secret to Swami Satchidananda who eventually passed it on to Dr. RavirajKadle, who is still practicing in Karnataka.
Anonymous, Turkey: A guest of Dr. Sreejith’s got in touch with him to discuss about a friend of his who performed a more simple way of the procedure in her very room. She darkened the windows and walls and locked herself up for about a week and saw immense improvement in her critical lung condition.
KPR was thought to be the elixir of old times. There are references from the long past which states that this procedure helped people defy age. We are hoping that by following this long forgotten ancient procedure, it would explicitly benefit the metabolism and ensure a fruitful and disciplined life. The fact that this treatment was a common practice during ancient times does help understand the healthier and longer lives lead by the sages and ancestors in the bygone eras. In today’s world the kind of seclusion and discipline that is needed for KPR is challenging. However, it is not impossible and by gradually training the body, one can rest assured that the mental control involved can be sharpened the procedure can be successfully undertaken. Finally, when one looks at the magnitude of benefits from this procedure the challenges are worth undergoing, afterall.
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