Today we’d like to introduce you to VedAcharya Dr. Dhanada Kulkarni.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My First Gurus and Sadguru Shri Gajanan Maharaj, my grandfather- Shastri Shri Bhawan Gopal Joshi bestowed with the titles of “Vedshastrasampanna panditshastri” (endowed/mastering Vedshastra knowledge) were requested to counsel kings of Indore, Ujjain, Tryambakeshwar cities in India in his era, my parents and finally my Ayurveda Guru- Panchakarma Shiromani -Vaidya Prabhakar Tanaji Joshi (P. T. Joshi) a renowned Ayurved physician from Dhule Maharashtra, India are the inspirations behind our Astang Ayurved wellness Center with our ancestral vedic wisdom.
I am proud to share my journey by telling this story of vedic traditions. I am born as Yajur Vedic Brahmin by tradition. Brahmins are revered as an incarnation of knowledge itself. Priests, gurus, rishis, teachers, and scholars constituted the Brahmin community. They represent the link between sublime knowledge of the gods and the four vedas (The Vedas are the religious texts which inform the religion of Hinduism (also known as Sanatan Dharma meaning “Eternal Order” or “Eternal Path”). The term Veda means “knowledge” in that they are thought to contain the fundamental knowledge relating to the underlying cause of, function of, and personal response to existence. They are considered among the oldest, if not the oldest, religious works in the world). This way, since the ancestral wisdom is sustained through guru-disciple practice and would remain rooted to the requirements of their extensive acquisition of vedic knowledge.
Our Vedic ancestral knowledge of Vedic Mantras, Gems, Rudrakshas Malas, Yagas-यज्ञworship/offering refers to ritual done in front of a sacred fire with Mantras, Mudras, Yoga, vedic Astrology, Vastu and Ayurved from different ancient vedic texts are passed on to next generations as blessings to enlighten and to awaken human wellbeing with its rhythmic impressions on – physical, biological, emotional, and psychological aspects.
My mother Chandrakala Eknath Joshi, Vedanga Jyotish Astrology, Ph.D. and Vastu Visharad from KaviKulguru Kalidas Vishwa Vidyalaya-Ramtek, Maharashtra, India is an extraordinary vedic healer and spiritual teacher in Pune, India. She raised her kids from the beginning on vedanta’s teachings and its philosophy- “Beyond your body, beyond your mind, beyond your intellect lies your essential Self.” She shown us our mission and purpose in life culminates upon discover of your real Self.’ Drawing from the wisdom of ancient Veda texts, her philosophy for holistic development of a child recognizes the connectedness of body, mind and spirit. I remember chanting Mantras, Bhagavad-Gita, learning early morning Sanskrit shlokas/sahityas (literatures), help us understand deeper meaning on vedic scripture’s language, her early morning Suraya worshiping (praying to sun as first God of universe), her introducing yoga asanas to us before school, cooking nutritious healthy organic food offering as “Naivedya” sharing it as prasad (offering food over auspicious blessings) practicing Reki-pranic healing to soothe our anxiety during our exams and stress, inspiring through our dynamic career achievements and list is endless. Truly, she lives up to her “Chandrakala”- a Sanskrit name meaning “Beams of the moon “which symbols her motherly love as cool, sweet and as auspicious as full moon whose very presence soothed and gave hope to the many who sought his counsel.
I am blessed for sagacious vedic knowledge inherited to my DNA from my mom and my priest-ancestors on Ayurveda, vedic astrology, Vastu, Yoga, specific ancient mantra therapies and many sacred spiritual rituals for wellbeing of mankind. I am enchanted with natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice of Indian ancient vedic sciences. Now, with Astanga Ayurved Wellness Center foundation, I am delighted to bring my inborn eagerness to serve you all these vedic wisdom and a feeling of unity with all mankind.
I am proud to brag about my classical Doctorate study in Ayurvedic medicine earned as BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and surgery) Masters in Alternative Medicine, LMT, BCIM, International Master Ayurvedic and Yoga Specialist, B.A. in Vedanga Jyotish, Diploma in Vastushasatra from KaviKulguru Kalidas Vishwa Vidyalaya, Nagpur, India.
My passion for Vedic sciences kept me very active in promoting Ayurveda and other ancient Indian Vedic sciences at various forums in the USA over the last 22 years. I have served and continuing serving on the Executive Board of several Ayurveda and Yoga organizations internationally, an international keynote speaker, presenter and integrated medicine panel expert for many organizations. I have been honored with many international awards such Jivaka, Dhanwantari and Patanjali award for my Ayurveda and yogic research. Many my patients/clients know me from presenting Ayurvedic solutions on various media groups such as radio Azad, Funasia, EBC Radio, Radiozindagi, Asia TV. Recently, I am honored and proud to be on the Board of Directors for NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association) and Founder/Director of Texas’s first authentic Vedic school- Allvedic Institute of America.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Coming from India and representing a vedic lineage heritage, it was not an easy task to introduce a new system of medicine into a completely different culture. It has taken me as pioneer of Ayurveda several years in order to be comfortable enough to talk about and share my Vedic wisdom. I have had to acclimate myself by examining our beautiful western culture, the environments in which we live, the foods we eat, and our ways of being in order to appropriately apply the principles of Ayurveda to our western world. Through my own personal studies of the American culture, I have succeeded in translating Ayurveda (ancient Vedic Sanskrit wisdom) into not only the English language, but also the western culture as a whole. I have witnessed the profound healing potential of Ayurveda – not just in my two decades of practice as an Ayurvedic Doctor, but throughout my entire life. Growing up, herbal medicine and Panchakarma was not an alternative choice, but just a way of life. It has been my personal mission to share the traditional teachings of Ayurveda with the world: train high quality professionals of Ayurveda in traditional Indian medicine, and transmit the most comprehensive, holistic and personalized healing methodologies. Unfortunately, it is not possible to presume that all immigrants with a B.A.M.S. (Masters and bachelor degrees of Ayurvedic Medicine) have had this kind of exposure to and education about the U.S.
To practice or teach Ayurveda in USA, it is essential to understand the laws pertinent to practicing as a health care professional – licensed or otherwise. Currently, it is not legal to practice the full scope of Ayurveda here in the United States as it is in India. Considering that 40 out of 50 states do not have health freedom legislation, anyone residing in those states and practicing Ayurveda must understand their legal limitations and take the appropriate steps to protect themselves and their practice.
One of the most difficult challenge we as Ayurveda Doctors face everyday while practicing is that our services and consultations are not covered by any third-party insurance providers, people willing to take Ayurveda medicine as their first choice of treatment will have to spend from their own pocket. We often are not able to reach and serve all of those who need these vedic sciences!
Fortunately, I believe, this amazing unique platform of Dallas voyage popular media will become hope for many of us including me!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Astanga Ayurved (अष्टांग आयुर्वेद) is Sanskrit word. “Asta =Eight” and “Anga=limbs or branches”. Astanga word means “Heart or Essence of all the Eight Branches of Ayurveda,” is one of the primary ancient root texts of Ayurveda, called Astanga Hridaya” Astanga” is very classical word which continues to serve as a root source for Ayurvedic philosophy and protocol, providing clear guidelines in all aspects of health.
Our objective of making DFW and global community happy and healthy through authentic Vedic / Ayurvedic treatment delivered at their doorstep will be a direct response to the growing unhealthy alignments and chronic disorders-some examples are diabetes, arthritis, asthma, obesity, hypertension, spondylitis, piles, skin problems, sexual disorders, etc. Most of these are affecting us today which do not have an effective permanent solution at all. We are team of Ayurved Doctors who believe” together, these ancient knowledges can rejuvenate and help give birth to deeper dimensions of our own being to heal naturally.
Our logo represents “Eight branches of Ayurveda as blossomed eight lotus flower petals, an ancient symbol of awakening health and spiritual consciousness. Each lotus petal represents one “Anga/limb” which is a specialization of ayurveda medicine from ancient times. It is mentioned in Ayurvedic scriptures that Lord Brahma divided Ayurveda into eight parts to make it easy to learn, understand and remind. We can also say the Astanga Ayurveda as 8 super specialty branches of Ayurveda practiced since the classical era to heal and make people healthy naturally.
Astanga Ayurveda’s Eight different branches of Ayurveda are
1. Kaya Chikitsa (Internal Medicine) kaya= body, chikitsa= treatment
2. Shalya Tantra (Ayu. Surgery) shalya= harmful foreign particle, tantra=science
3. Shalakya Tantra (Ophthalmology & ENT) shalaka= a rod-like instrument, tantra- science
4. Koumarabhritya/ bala Roga (Pediatrics) Koumara= children, bhritya= nutrition, parental care
5. Bhoot Vidya (Ayu. psychiatry) Bhoot= invisible presence, Vidya= knowledge
6. Agad Tantra/Danshtra (Ayu. toxicology) Agada= toxin, danshtra= poisonous bite.
7. Rasayana Tantra (Geriatrics) Rasayan= any medicine, material or behavior which enhance longevity and slows down the process of ageing.
8. Vajikarana Tantra (Science of fertility & virility) Vaji= horse, a symbol of vital power or sexual power.
Our mission is to give our clients a private, tranquil haven to pamper, nourish, detoxify and recharge themselves; and if they have the desire, to provide a road map to guide them down a spiritual path of self-discovery. Every aspect of our wellness center is dedicated to this purpose. At Astanga Ayurveda our mission is to offer uniqueness of authentic Ayurvedic treatment honed over centuries and Specific recommendations to each individual on lifestyle, diet, exercise and yoga, herbal therapy, and even spiritual practices to restore and maintain balance in body and mind. This understanding that we are all unique individuals It is based on health treatises and compendiums compiled by the greats like Charaka, Susruta, Vagabhatta and many other acharyas after them over thousands of years, and has been reinforced with evidence.
Astanga Ayurveda & Panchakarma Wellness Center will be the lion’s roar and voice to preserve and bring right respect for all Indian ancient sciences. Astanga Ayurved and Panchakarma Wellness Center’s vision is to become undoubtedly the future of all Ayurveda services as “one stop shop” location for modern DFW and global community where wellness offer personalized consultations and are well equipped to provide a range of Ayurvedic treatments to help people stay healthy and seek a permanent and effective solution against not only chronic alignments but to maintain their healthy lifestyle. We as global Ayurvedic wellness facility would be promoting all Indian ancient sciences and our vision is to provide global platform to help spread the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, Yoga, Vastu, Vedic astrology, etc. through lectures and workshops, conferences all over the world. We welcome all who has interest to promote, help, network, share information about Vedic Indian sciences and collaborate with us.
Contact Info:
- Email: astangaayu@gmail.com
- Website: https://astangaayurvedcenter.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayurved_dfwastanga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DFWAstangaAyurvedCenter/
