All World
Gayatri Pariwar

Normally, only a few people are blessed with long healthy life. But at some places, it has been found that the average life span of the residents is 85-100 years! This is one such mystery of Nature. Let us see the facts and figures regarding this riddle. 

In Italy, on top of the mountain range between Sienna and Naples, there is a village named Campodimele. The natural beauty of this village is scenic, heavenly and marvelous. In Europe, this village is also known as “Forever Young” village. All the inhabitants of this village have seen minimum of 85 spring seasons. To unveil the mystery behind the long life of these villagers, a group of European psychologists went to Campodimele and did research on them. They found that the villagers live a peaceful and tension free life. Their eating habits are vegetarian and controlled. Their diet is mandated by fresh fruits, green vegetables, milk, sprouts and boiled cereals. They take rest for a while after lunch. Traditionally, they sleep by the dusk and wake up quite early in the morning. They spend their life in the proximity of Mother Nature.

Nature’s similar gift has been given to the people of Symi island of Greece. The average age of the people here is 90 years. All inhabitants use tomato, vegetables and salad in good quantity. Normally they eat raw or less cooked vegetables. Either due to the diet or nature’s unique gift, these people are found working very hard even at the age of 80-90. Hard work, honesty and goodwill are the foundations of this society. Their family life is bonded with strong threads of mutual love and caring with cooperative and generous nature. Their way of celebrating festivals is remarkable. They celebrate them with full gusto and enthusiasm. Inhabitants of this island live tension-free and happy life with their families. 

In the East China Sea, there is a group of 161 islands. This island group is known as Okinawa Archipelago. This island is also blessed with people who live long. It has been found that the vegetables like sweet potato, leafy vegetables, and cereals are part of their daily diet. Soya bean also forms an essential part of their diet. According to the physiologists, all these elements contain antioxidants, which stop the harmful effects of aging and growth of cancerous free radical cells. The topmost specialty of their food is that it contains minimal salt. It is a known fact that salt increases blood pressure. Hence these people don’t have blood pressure and heart related diseases. Even at the age of 80, they can easily do farming. They are very fond of exercises. These include gardening, walking, folk dance and ancient marshal arts. Inhabitants of Okinawa give much importance to meditation. They successfully try to resolve all their problems through meditation. 

Dwellers of Bama village in China have also achieved the goal of longevity. They take tomato and black pepper in good quantity. Tomato and black pepper have beta-carotene and vitamin C in large quantity, which are very good for health. Tomato has antioxidant Lycobin in high amount, which stops cancer. They take a green leafy vegetable named Amaranth. It contains twice the amount of calcium present in milk. Apart from that it contains potassium, folic acid, iron and vitamin A, C and E in good quantities. Hemp, full of nutritional elements in balanced quantity, and corn full of antioxidants and folic acid, are part of their intake. Bama inhabitants are very fond of eating brown rice, which has magnesium, iron content and vitamins. Probability of having cholesterol in the blood and heart diseases decreases by taking brown rice. Their food stores have the tradition to keep Ginseng and astragalus herbs. They are very fond of music also.  

Tribal inhabitants of Hunza area in the North East of Pakistan also possess long life. They eat lot of spinach, radish, sweet potato and carrot. Due to the habit of drinking more water each person carries an earthen pot with him / her. They daily drink an average of one large pot of water. They love sports very much. Their traditional sport is Polo. They like dancing also. Scientists researching on this tribe have found that up till now nobody has got cancer in this area. Even the roots of ulcer, tumor in the intestine and appendicitis cannot be found. Their family life is run on the basis of cooperation and good will. Age of quite a number of people living in certain special areas of the Himalayas has been found to be more than 100 years.

Many researches and tests have been conducted to understand the secret behind the longevity of these inhabitants of different regions but no conclusive outcome has been achieved. Human mind is finding itself incapable and helpless in uncovering this mystery of Nature. But one thing is for sure that by leading life in a balanced, harmonious, mutually loving, self-controlled and systematic manner and in companionship with nature, one can attain good health and longevity. Naturalists have also come to a consensus that nature and life have deep inter-connection. 

What is the reason that in today’s world, long life has become only a dream whereas in ancient India average age of a person used to be 100 years (Jeevem Sharadah Shatam)? Ayurvedic scriptures provide an answer to this. They profess to follow the regimen of 

Hitbhuk, Ritbhuk and Mitbhuk to attain long and healthy life. Hitbhuk means eating according to the state of health and what is beneficial for health. Eat for health and not taste. Ritbhuk means eat food according to the season and that is prepared with goodwill. Mitbhuk means eat with moderation. Don’t overeat. People desirous of attaining healthy body and healthy mind should strictly follow this advice.

First turn was of Satyaki. The other two slept. In a short while, one demon came down the tree and challenged Satyaki to engage in a duel with him. Satyaki accepted the challenge and kept fighting with the demon for all the three hours of his turn as guard. He got hurt all over the body but he did not tell it to anybody and after his turn, he went to sleep.

Now Baldev got up. The demon challenged him too. Baldev fought with the demon, cursing him in an abusive language. Demon’s size and energy level kept increasing with time. Baldev also got hurt very badly.

Next was Vasudev’s turn. He also got the challenge; but he kept smiling and kept fighting with the demon without showing anger or using abusive language. He kept telling the demon, “You are an interesting man. Are you fighting with me for fun as you want to get rid of your sleepiness and laziness?” Demon’s energy level came down. His size was reduced to the size of a cockroach. Vasudev tied it in his dress.

In the morning when everybody was ready to leave, Satyaki and Baldev told the incident of their duels with the demon at night and showed their wounds. Vasudev smiled and told his friends that the demon was none other than “Anger”. As it gets equally any reaction, its size increases. If you confront it with a smile, it becomes tiny and weak like a cockroach.