RASAYANA KAMRUPI

Traditional Beauty Therapies of North East India

DR. MADHUMITA SAIKIA

RASAYANA KAMRUPI Traditional Beauty Therapies of North East India

DR. MADHUMITA SAIKIA

CON TEN TS

Preface 1. Introduction & history of traditional beauty

in North east India 2. Kamrupi to Pragjyotishpur to Greater Assam 3. Kamrupi in Vedic era 4. Traditional healing Vs Tantra 5. Veda- The secret formulae 6. Traditional food to enhance beauty and wellness 7. Tribal traditions for beauty and healing 8. Traditional care for health and beauty. 9. Wedding Rituals and traditions 10. Traditional healing with natural ingredients. 11. Traditional herbs of Assam 12. Summary and conclusion References

v 1 6 15 28 53 63 78 97 115 126 159 167 181

PREFACE

The Universe is beautiful. Everything, every life, living or non-living, is beautiful. Only the beautiful beings exist in the Universe and attracts the life energy to succeed. That is the secret of Nature. Nobody, nothing is created or born ugly. There is no concept of ugliness. So, the thought of a life being not beautiful should never even be considered. This is the Universal truth that the sages and Rishis, since the pre-historic ages tried to spread among human beings as Shrutis, which were later documented as Shlokas in the Vedas. The physical, mental and psychosomatic purity is the ultimate

beauty.

One

cannot

be

beautiful

with

proportionate and conventional external features alone. To bring a good balance a good soul, mind and body, are v

essential. The pathway to create the essence of Aura, which will attract everything beautiful to be more attractive, to attain a successful life. Sanatani civilization emphasized on the external and internal upgradation with proper balance. This is the Eda, Pingala and Susumna as in Kundalini Jagaran, engulfing an illuminated Human, to have beautiful Aura of seven layers of electro-magnetic field, around one’s physical body. The Shahashra Dhara of life will spring like pure water fountain from deep within, crossing the seven chakras, of illumination, creating true beauty & wellness. Spiritual, mental and physical balance and purity makes this Aura more illuminous and attracts beauty towards it. The tribes of North-east India have deep belief in this Aura and aspire to make it pure and beautiful through different therapies. This book is just a peak of the iceberg of beauty & wellness of the tribal population of North-east India. The indigenous people of Northeast are origins of this place while some migrated from as far as Siberia, Tibet, Burma, China, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro valleys. Later more tribes from South, West, East, Central and North India migrated and settled in North east India. There has been steady flow from Bangladesh and Nepal throughout. They brought their own traditions, rituals and customs and intercommunicated

during

their

stay

in

this

place.

Transformation and amalgamation of customs flowed like vi

a river, penetrating through the ages. Some got accepted, while some remained aloof, within their own communities, while many were discarded from time-to-time. Religious beliefs in certain communities, influenced the traditions, from time to time, but basic features and traditions related to beauty and wellness remained intact. Science & technology and the impact of modernity, have penetrated into the young generations. Beauty and cosmetic industry made its mark with latest hair, makeup and

chemical

cosmetic

revolution.

However,

the

indigenous population still stick to the age-old therapies, especially during observation of festivals, weddings, death and birth ceremonies, in the form of traditions. Young generations are now aware of the negative effects of chemicals on their hair and skin. They are trying to unearth age old potions, packs, lotions to use for their beauty regimes. Many formulae are being re-discovered to get it bottled to commercially made it available. The newly rediscovered age-old therapies and beauty products are easy to use and very effective. Therefore, more and more people are getting attracted towards them. Study work in different

communities

and

tribes

for

years

and

documenting them for the benefit of people has made this author aware, how rich are these therapies- the Rasayana Vidya of Greater Kamrupi Culture. Hope, readers will be benefited out these. vii

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION & HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL BEAUT Y IN NORTH EAST INDIA

B

eauty is in the eyes of the beholder- the anonymous quote is heard often yet every living person seek to

look presentable and attractive in the eyes of others. First thing in the morning we wake up and like to see a face with positive looks. We are concerned about our skin texture. We care about the thickness of our skin. Visit salons, parlours, spas and cosmetologists seeking therapies and cosmetics to make us look beautiful and attractive. This is a modern way of looking and caring about our beauty. In old scriptures, history and mythology we read and hear about kings, queens, princes, princesses, fairies with pretty faces, long lustrous hair. In the history and myths of Assam, its observed that the beauty of common people 1

occupies

prominence.

The

pokathekera

or

buttery

complexion of the mongoloids. The thick hair of tribal people are often make others envious. Recently, during a research trip, we observed people of seventy plus age of Karbi (Mikir) tribe look like in forties. They are active, strong, no grey hair, a few lines on skin and no pigmentation issues. A lady of seventy-five years climbing a hillock, cut a banana plantation, carry it , cook in her paddy field with pork in a bamboo and open fire to eat as lunch. In another place saw a lady of ninty-two years age climbing hills like she is in her twenties. She fell and rolled down, climbing a slippery point. We were awestruck to see her giggling, getting up, blushing and again climbing up. This time with a load of bamboo, quite heavy for a young man too. So are the Dimasa tribes who carry children on their back with loads of groceries or firewood on their shoulders. Having smooth skin and not a single grey hair in their head at the age of sixty plus. This tribe people are so strong and headstrong, proud of their ancestry and traditions. The Bodo people live mostly on the banks of river, flood effect, wild areas. Very notorious for mosquito-infected diseases yet they live long as though they challenge the nature. Their skin and hair and strong bone structure can make any Indian from other states envious.

2

The people of Assam are known for their soft, smooth and radiant skin. They have long, smooth, straight, dark and thick hair. Mostly short in comparison to other citizens of India. The bone structure strong, well-built muscles, Das et al, 1984, wrote in their research paper that the selected tribes belong to the Tibetan Burman family of the Mongoloid group. They have established the characteristic physical features of the Mongoloid. The Mongoloids are characterized by yellow or yellow-brown skin tones, stretched or flat wavy and coarse head of hair. Their eyes are black or dark brown in colour. The eyes slit are oblique and palpebral fissure is narrow One of the typical characteristics of the Mongoloid is the presence of Mongoloid fold in their eyes. Their face is broad and zygomatic

arches

are

very

prominent.

Tribes

of

Assam,2018, the book published by the Directorate of Tribal Research Institute, Assam, confirm these feature adding that, another characteristic feature of them is scanty growth of facial and body hair. Saikia Shivangee,2018, Anthropology graduate and a Nutritionist Masters student from Martin Luthar Christian University, Shillong stated that, blood groups of most Mongoloids are A +ve and are anemic, with tendency for E trait or E disease problem. Their nasal bones are not defined

like

the

Caucasians,

nostrils

broader

comparatively. The mandible bone is broader with big 3

prominent or protruding teeth. The pre-molars and molars are stronger, incisors are not straight but protruding mostly, canines more pointed. They are more suitable for nonvegetarian food habits. Sarma Chandana, 2019, Asst Professor, Anthropology, Cotton University, stated that the most tribes of Assam, belong to mongoloid race. Mongoloids are such built that in childhood they can accept milk or dairy products but as they grow their body needs more meat protein than milk protein. Mongoloids need more meat protein, hydrating rice or maize as staple food. They can survive on low quantity of vegetables but need herbs to prevent seasonal diseases. Wheat products make their skin to get eruptions like acne, pimples or extreme dryness may cause hyper pigmentation, sagginess, wrinkled. The Mongoloids have hair with more scales in cuticle, straight prominent medulla, smooth straight even cortex tissues. The cortex contains more carbon with oxygen and hydrogen molecules and less or no sulphur. The roots are deep rooted and usually do not bald. The hair is often straight because of the even balanced medulla. Lam, Winda, 2017, International Cosmetologist and hair expert, Chief of Winda’s International, Hong kong, stated that Dermatologists state that the mongoloids have smooth even skin, very thick dermal layer and thin epidermal layer. 4

The

Sonowal

Kacharis

and

Mishings

are

mongoloids. The body hair is scanty or nil. The skin looks very smooth clear soft and fair yellowish with a slight pinkish tint in their early years till mid-twenties. The epidermal layer has a tendency to attain signs of hyper pigmentation, early aging signs like roughness, wrinkles, sagginess and thick layered dermal and subdermal layers.

5

CHAPTER 2

KAMRUPI TO PRAGJ YOTISHPUR TO GREATER ASSAM

T

he first dated mention of the region comes from Periplu of the Erythraen Sea (1st century) where it

describes a people called Sêsatea, and the second mention comes from Ptolemy’s Geographia (2nd century) which calls the region Kirrhadia after the Kirata population. In the classical period and up to the 12th century the region east of the Karatoya river, , largely congruent to presentday Assam, was called Kamrupa, and alternatively, Pragjyotisha. Though a western portion of Assam as a region continued to be called Kamrup, the Ahom Kingdom, that emerged in the east, and which came to dominate the entire Brahmaputra Valley, was called Assam (e.g. Mughals used Asham); and the British province too was called Assam. Though the precise etymology of Assam is not clear, the name Assam is 6

associated with the Ahom, originally called Shyam or Shan. Assam being very rich in natural resources and herbs, seen to be well connected with experts of other places. For their supply of the herbs and other medicinal plants, especially used in health and beauty. ‘Mritsanjivani’- the great herb, believed to have cosmic energy to bring back life in a dead person, was found in abundance. The plant was carried from this place at the time of Ramayana, by Hanuman. It’s important to know that knowledge that it is found in ‘Ishan Koun’, the North –East corner of Bharatvarsh was a wellknown fact at that time among the experts of health & wellness sector, even in regions like Lanka, the ancient Sri Lanka. This means communication between the Rishis, Health Experts, Acharyas were very good. However, it is not yet found as how the ancient scholars and sages communicated with each other. Whether they travelled, exchanged messages through messengers or had some other technique. Dr. C.P.Asghar, 2017, Chief of Greens Ayurveda and Panchakarma Centre, Azhiyur, Kerala, spoke on the topic and stated that present way of learning Ayurveda started since we started following English way of education. Now we study for BAMS or such equivalent degrees in a prescribed

time

Mahavidyalaya,

period.

In

Viswavidyalas

ancient were

era

many

scattered

in 7

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born as the eighth child, in a family from Tinsukia, Assam. Her father was a traditional healer beside working in IOC. Her mother, a herbs grower and collector, were her first teachers. Dr. Madhumita Saikia, had her general and technical (Beauty, Alternative medicine, Ayurveda, Holistic massage & therapies) education in India, South East Asia and Europe. She had been Invited to China, Hongkong, England, Myanmar and Australia as guest faculty of Ayurveda and rejuvenation therapy. She penned down 6(six) technical books in Beauty and Ayurveda, a dozen fictions. She was felicitated by Assam Sahitya Sabha as Sanchalika in Barpeta Adhibhekhon in 2013. Govt. of Assam, conferred her with Assam Bhasha Gaurav Award, in 2021. Indian Institute of Entrepreneurs (IIE) Felicited her with, Assam Women Entrepreneur Award, in 2018. Presently she is the Governing council member of B&WSSC, Govt of India. Principal of Signature Beauty & Ayurveda Institute, Guwahati. Loves working with indigenous and tribal population, in rural areas. Trained and helped to establish over 27,000 plus women and youths in North East. She enjoys painting, reading, writing, nature trekking, travelling, learning traditional therapies and being in good company. She is a commerce graduate, masters in Mass Media, attained her doctorate on her thesis on ‘Traditional beauty & wellness’ in 2020, from Gauhati University, Assam.

ABOUT THE BOOK It’s a research work on traditional ethnic beauty & wellness therapies. The book includes age-old herbal and natural healing medicines, ayurvedic nutritional food, various herbs, found in North east India, that can heal and rejuvenate. This knowledge is passed on from generation to generation- father-to-son, mother-to-daughter- since pre-Vedic era. Discover the secrets of North East India.

Also available as an e-book

Non Fiction

` 499 | $ 6.00