Elixir of Life

The real nectar...

May 04, 2024

Since time immemorial many cultures, traditions, mythologies, and religions have described a legendary drink that grants eternal life or eternal youth, famously called the Elixir of Life. To that end, many alchemists and scientists have attempted to formulate several concoctions, potions, and medicines that will prolong one’s life, delay aging, or grant eternal youth.

HISTORICAL MENTIONS OF ELIXIR

Upon my research, I found several mentions of such an elixir in the history of various countries like Japan, China, ancient Greece, Europe, and India- variously referred to as ‘water of life’, ‘Aab-i-Hayat’, ‘Amrita’, ‘ambrosia’, ‘fountain of youth’ etc. This elixir has been an inspiration or plot feature for several books like ‘Doctor Who’, Harry Potter, ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’, and many more.

Many alchemists from Europe have sought to explore its recipe and gained a reputation as creators of the elixir. The most popular of these is ‘Nicholas Flamel’, made famous by his mention in Harry Potter first book as a friend of Dumbledore and owner of the Philosopher’s Stone. Philosopher’s Stone is what he used to manufacture the widely coveted ‘elixir’.

Aside from all the above history, an extraordinary event is mentioned in our Vedic scriptures called ‘The churning of ocean’ where demons and demigods joined forces to churn the ocean and retrieve the nectar/Amrit from its depths. This nectar would grant eternal life to the drinkers, making them immune to the influence of time (disease, old age, and death).

DESIRE FOR IMMORTALITY

Why do we have this desire to become immortal?

We desperately want to preserve the body in all its glory, beauty, and health and go to tedious lengths to accomplish this. This shows our inherent tendency to attain immortality or eternal life.

As spirit souls, we are imperishable, indestructible, immutable, eternal, and full of bliss. However, being temporarily trapped in this material body- we have come to fear disease, old age, and death. Therefore, it is not unusual that we find our position in the material world and material body incompatible with our natural state and constantly aspire to achieve that immortal/eternal state through artificial means and quick solutions like an ‘elixir’.

ENTROPY IS THE LAW OF THIS WORLD

Is it possible to make such a concoction that will give immortality?

Vedic knowledge describes that our body being made of matter goes through 6 transformations- birth, existence, growth, byproducts, dwindles/ decays, and death. The world similarly degrades over time and gradually disintegrates- this process is called Entropy. Entropy is the gradual progression of the universe toward death and disorder. This is the law of material nature and an inherent tendency of the matter.

In this way, our body deteriorates over time. It degenerates, gets diseased, becomes old and finally becomes futile for the soul. Therefore, the spiritual spark ‘soul’ leaves this decrepit material habitation and takes up fresh residence in a new body.

Therefore, all such efforts to delay aging, preserve this body in its most youthful stage, and stay eternally healthy and beautiful are against the laws of the world and are constantly foiled.

FEEL ALIVE AND JOY IN THIS BODY

So, how do we fulfill this need to feel eternality or immortality while residing in this miserable material world where the danger of old age, disease, and death is always looming?

THROUGH MEDICINES/DRUGS/MUSHROOMS?

Many people have devised various ways to overcome the influence of time – through cosmetic surgeries, treatments, creams, injections, fillers, etc. As we have failed to lay hands on an elixir of life, we try to feel our eternality and blissful state through artificial means- like psychedelic agents, hallucinogens, LSD, magic mushrooms, etc. to achieve an artificial ethereal experience which gives a temporary ‘high’ and transports the subtle body into a state of joy. However, this experience is not only short-lasting but potentially harmful to the body.

These substances produce an altered state of consciousness and give an artificial hallucinatory experience of transcending the miseries of this world and experiencing a state of bliss while residing in this material body.

IS THERE REALLY AN ELIXIR OF LIFE?

Actually, unbeknownst to most people- there exists an elixir of life that not only provides the state of ever-increasing, unending joy while inhabiting this body but also affords the actual immortality that we so desperately crave.

In contrast to matter, anything spiritual (some modern scientists like to refer to as anti-matter) i.e. divine is beyond the laws of material nature and opposite in qualities to matter. It is always new, fresh, eternal, joyful and does not degenerate over time.

Therefore, a soul being spiritual can only fulfill its agenda of immortality by interacting with something far more spiritual—> something divine.

This nectar or elixir is called ‘Srimad Bhagavatam’. Drinking in its words instantly transports one to the spiritual realm, experience the real joy, and achieve our ultimate, eternal, spiritual body after leaving this one.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

The great, celebrated author (Ved Vyas) of this book ‘Srimad Bhagavatam’ instructs us to drink the words and verses of this book daily, and immortality is guaranteed. One acquires their spiritual body, which is eternal, indestructible, and blissful and there is no further concern of death, disease, old age, or miseries.

This truly authentic elixir when consumed not only gives spiritual experience while in this body, but also grants eternal youth, unlimited beauty, ever-increasing joy, infinite wisdom, and the much sought-after freedom from death.

SUTRĀS || Nārangi Devi Dāsi

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