Indian Rituals – Science behind Indian Traditions
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India is a land of innumerable traditions and customs, although despite having witnessed or belonging to this rich society, we lack the rationale behind these rituals and brand them superstitious and meaningless.
After reading this article, you will be surprised to know that the common rituals practice today actually has a smart logic behind them.
1. Hiccups are a sign of being missed by someone?
Why is it said that someone is missing you when you get hiccups?
What can be the logic behind such a bizarre tradition?
It’s quite a smart way of distracting one’s mind and thinking that the person could be, and as a result, hiccups automatically stop.
2. Eating a spoonful of curd and sugar before an exam – Indian Rituals
When one of the most common exam rituals that almost all of us have grown up following, is that of eating a spoonful of curd and sugar before any crucial exam.
But why?
The answer to this is found in the Ayurvedic scriptures.
Firstly, the curd and sugar combination being fundamentally sweet helps supply glucose to the body, which raises your energy level.
Another reason why the combination is offered right before the exam is that curd and sugar or anything meetha has been called बुद्धि वर्धक in Ayurveda.
Thirdly, it has a cooling and soothing effect on the body and mind
So the next time you are out for an important meeting, don’t forget to have curd with mishri powder.
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3. Why do we give Shagun by ending with one (11, 21, 51, 101) – Indian Rituals
No matter how much amount you get for shagun, it always ends on one.
Ever thought why?
An amount that ends in zero suggests the end of a transaction. But the additional rupee connotes continuity and the hope of future exchanges.
Here’s how the loan rupee becomes a symbol of an everlasting relationship.
But why a rupee coin? Why not a paper note?
That’s because metal or धातु is considered to be a form of Goddess Lakshmi, which keeps negative energy away and marks prosperity.
4. If fasting at someday of a week is superstition? Indian Rituals
Heard Someone say Today is my Tuesday fast?
The truth is that fasting for Indians is not an obligation, but a moral and spiritual act where the aim is to purify the body and mind because the body does not have to do the work of digestion.
It has more energy to focus on the spiritual aspect. That’s actually why it’s called उपवास।
उप means near and
वास means to stay staying near to God.
In India, people choose various days in a month as a reverence to their favorite deity and fast for spiritual growth. Of course, the countless physical and mental benefits of fasting have now been well noted by modern science, from controlling obesity to improving hormonal balance to the growth of new brain cells.
This holistic, detoxifying practice is worth every effort.
5. Is applying Sindoor by the wedded females is a superstition?
The dash of sindoor or vermilion powder on a bride’s forehead is her holiest mark as she begins her journey as a bride.
But do you know the physiological significance behind this ritual?
Traditionally, Sind00r is prepared by mixing turmeric, lime, and mercury, which is known to control blood pressure and activate sexual drive.
This also explains why widows do not use it.
To make it more effective, Sindoor is put starting from the forehead all the way to the pituitary gland, the seat of thoughts and emotions.
Newly married women are also advised to wear heavy tight bangles. This is an intelligent way to press the veins underneath to increase the blood flow in reproductive organs, resulting in easy conception.
Another masterpiece is the toe ring, which is inevitably worn on the second finger, a particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to the heart.
Wearing a toe ring on this finger helps strengthen the uterus by regulating the blood flow to it, thereby regularizing the menstrual cycles.
Moreover, for a woman when all these are prominent marks of being married and so not to be persuaded by other means.
6. Hanging Lemon and chilies – Indian Rituals
We have all seen Lemon and chilies hanging on the trucks, cars, and shops, etc.
The belief is that it wards off evil spirits. Practically local restaurants place this combo on the table to save their customers any trouble from the insects that may hover around for food.
The active heat-producing ingredient capsaicin repels mosquitoes and flies because it is an irritant.
More interestingly, centuries ago when people had to undertake long travels on foot, they often had to traverse through a variety of landscapes and encounter the threats of predators and inconsistent water supply.
To combat these issues, it seems our traveling heroes used to carry nimbu mirchi with them.
The lemon was meant to keep them hydrated, while the chilli could be used to check if snake bites were venomous or not.
It was believed that when the traveler bit on chili and couldn’t taste it, it would indicate that the snake was poisonous and numbed his or her nerves.
7. Offering water to the sun early morning
Every day Indians welcome the Sun, the source of life on this planet by their water offering ritual.
There are great benefits to this practice, backed up by scientific significance. When the sunlight passes through water, it breaks down into a spectrum of seven colors.
It is in this form that the sun’s energy is absorbed maximum by our body. It helps to balance the three Doshas, improves eyesight, strengthens the heart, and enhances mind power.
And of course, this practice also helps to bring discipline into one’s life as it makes you rise before the sunrise, allowing you to maximize the hours in the day.
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8. What is the significance of celebrating गणपति विसर्जन?
In 10 days, after welcoming Lord Ganesha to our homes on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, Devotees bid adieu to Ganesh idols on the day of Anant Chaturdashi.
But what is the purpose? Indian Rituals
It’s deep and sagacious. The visarajan ritual symbolizes the cycle of birth and death.
It’s a reminder that nothing is permanent and that change is the only constant. It’s a reminder that everyone who is born on this planet or that exists shall perish one day. Moreover, the reason why the idols are imposed in a water body also has a profound meaning.
The ocean or the water body represents that infinite and idol is a soul seeking salvation.
In the olden days, our ancestors were conscious enough to make Ganesha idols using herbs like turmeric, neem, and clay, which would not only get easily disintegrated but also render the water bodies clean.
9. Why do we not touch books with our feet? Indian Rituals
Our feet, even though they are very important, are considered to be the dirtiest part of our body in regard to the fact that they come in contact with the ground first and so contact with dust is inevitable.
The outdoors may not be very clean, as we would like it to be. Hence, a great effort has to be made to avoid stepping over someone, any food, utensils, or books. Our culture has always regarded knowledge as sacred and divine, and therefore must always be respected at all times.
The ritual or custom of not touching any educational tools with our feet shows us the pedestal on which we put knowledge in Indian culture.
So these were some of the common Indian rituals, which have logic behind them. This gives us an idea of how intelligent our forefathers were in designing various rituals and customs for the holistic well-being of us and the environment.
I hope you will like this information.
