Making Shatdhaut cream traditionally involves a meticulous process of washing purified butter (ghee) repeatedly with water. This ancient technique, often rooted in Ayurvedic practices, focuses on transforming the ghee into a highly therapeutic cream.
The Traditional Washing Process
The core of creating Shatdhaut cream is the intensive washing procedure. This process is not merely physical but also involves a meditative aspect aimed at enhancing the cream's energetic properties.
Here's a breakdown of the key steps involved in the repeated washing phase:
Repeated Water Washings (Dhaut)
The term "Shatdhaut" itself translates to "one hundred times washed" (Shat = hundred, Dhaut = washed), indicating the repetitive nature of this step. The reference highlights a specific cycle within this process:
- Rotation Cycle: The ghee is continuously rotated or stirred.
- Water Exchange: After each 100 rotations, pour away the water and add fresh 50 gm of water, and continue the process. This cycle of stirring for 100 rotations, discarding the old water, and adding 50 gm of fresh water is repeated multiple times.
This repeated washing is believed to remove impurities and alter the physical and energetic properties of the ghee.
Energetic Infusion
Beyond the physical act of washing, the process incorporates intentional practices:
- Rotation Direction: The texts prescribe clockwise rotations.
- Mindset: This is often performed while chanting with a meditative state of mind.
- Purpose: The goal of these practices is specifically to raise the vibrational healing energy of the cream.
Transformation
As this rigorous washing process continues, the physical state of the ghee changes significantly:
- The solid or semi-solid ghee will liquify, melding with water.
- With continued washing and rotation, it starts to form into cream.
This results in a light, fluffy, white cream known for its cooling and soothing properties.
Ingredients and Equipment
While the provided reference focuses on the washing technique, the basic ingredients are typically:
- Pure Ghee: Traditionally made from cow's milk butter.
- Water: Clean, potable water is used for the washing process.
Essential equipment includes:
- A vessel (often copper, but other materials can be used) for washing.
- A stirring tool.
- Measuring tools for water (as specified in the reference).
The repeated washing process, guided by specific techniques like those mentioned in the reference (100 rotations, 50 gm fresh water addition, clockwise motion, meditative chanting), transforms the ghee into the desired Shatdhaut cream consistency and imbues it with purported therapeutic benefits.
