Indian Customs Vs ScientificReasons

[Priya Gopal]

             Indian Customs Vs Scientific Reasons Traditions in

 

 1. Throwing Coins into a River

The

  general reasoning given for this act is that it brings Good

 Luck. However, scientifically speaking, in the ancient

  times, most of the currency used was made of copper unlike

 the stainless steel coins of today. Copper is a vital metal

 very useful to the human body. Throwing coins in the river

 was one way our fore-fathers ensured we intake sufficient

 copper as part of the water as rivers were the only source

  of drinking water. Making it a custom ensured that all of us

 follow the practice.

  2. Why do Indian Women wear Toe Ring:

 Wearing toe rings is not just the

 significance of married women but there is science behind

 it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A

  particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and

 passes to heart. Wearing toe ring on this finger strengthens

 the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood

 flow to it and menstrual cycle will

  be regularized. As Silver is a good conductor, it also

 absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the

 body.

 3. Why do Temple have Bells:

 People who are visiting the temple should and

 will Ring the bell before entering the inner sanctum

 (Garbhagudi or Garbha Gruha or womb-chamber) where the main

 idol is placed. According to Agama Sastra, the bell is used

  to give sound for keeping evil forces away and the ring of

 the bell is pleasant to God. However, the scientific reason

 behind bells is that their ring clears our mind and helps us

 stay sharp and keep our full concentration on devotional

 purpose. These bells are made in such a way that when they

  produce a sound it creates a unity in the Left and Right

 parts of our brains. The moment we ring the bell, it

 produces a sharp and enduring sound which lasts for minimum

 of 7 seconds in echo mode. The duration of echo is good

 enough to activate all the seven healing centres in our

  body. This

  results in emptying our brain from all negative

 thoughts.

4. Why do we have Navratras:

 Our living style has drastically changed if we

 compare it to the society hundreds & thousands of years

ago. The traditions which we follow in present are not

 establishments of today but of the past. Ever thought, why

 do we have Navratras twice a year unlike other festivals

 like Deepawali or Holi? Well, both these months are the

 months of changing seasons and the eating habits of both the

  seasons are quite different from each other. Navratras give

 enough time to the body to adjust and prepare itself for to

 the changing season. These nine days were marked as a period

 when people would clean their body system by keeping fasts

 by avoiding

  excessive salt and sugar, meditate, gain a lot of positive

 energy, gain a lot of self confidence & increase the

 self determination power (fasts are a medium to improve our

  will power and self determination) and finally get ready for

 the challenges of the changed season.

 5. Why do weworship Peepal Tree

‘Peepal’ tree is almost useless for

 an ordinary person, except for its shadow. ‘Peepal’ does

  not a have a delicious fruit,

  its wood is not strong enough for any purpose then why

 should a common villager or person worship it or even care

 for it? Our ancestors knew that ‘Peepal’ is one of the

 very few trees (or probably the only tree) which produces

  oxygen even at night. So in order to save this tree because

 of its unique property they related it to

 God/religion.

 6. Start with Spice & End with Sweet: 

Our ancestors have stressed on

 the fact that our meals should be started off with something

  spicy and sweet dishes should be taken towards the end. The

 significance of this eating practice is that while spicy

 things activate the digestive juices and acids and ensure

 that the digestion process goes on smoothly and efficiently,

 sweets or

  carbohydrates pulls down the digestive process. Hence,

 sweets were always recommended to be taken as a last

 item.

 7. Choti on the Male Head:

 Sushrut rishi, the foremost surgeon of Ayurveda,

 describes the master sensitive spot on the head as Adhipati

 Marma, where there is a nexus of all nerves. The shikha

 protects this spot. Below, in the brain, occurs the

  Brahmarandhra, where the sushumnã (nerve) arrives from the

 lower part of the body. In Yog, Brahmarandhra is the

 highest, seventh chakra, with the thousand-petalled lotus.

 It is the centre of wisdom. The knotted shikhã helps boost

 this centre and conserve its subtle energy known as

  ojas.

 8. Applying Mehendi/Henna on the Hand

 Besides lending color to the

 hands, mehndi is a very powerful medicinal herb. Weddings

 are stressful, and often, the stress causes headaches and

 fevers. As the wedding day approaches, the excitement mixed

  with nervous anticipation can take its toll on the bride and

 groom. Application of mehndi can prevent too much stress

 because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming

 tense. This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands

 and feet, which house nerve endings in the

 body.

  9. Sitting on the Floor & Eating

  This tradition is not just about

 sitting on floor and eating, it is regarding sitting in the

 “Sukhasan” position and then eating. Sukhasan is the

  position we normally use for Yoga asanas. Sitting in this

 position while eating helps in improving digestion as the

 circulatory

  system can focus solely upon digestion and not on our legs

 dangling from a chair or supporting us while we are

standing.
 

---------------------------------------------------
Save knowledge it will save you.
Priya Gopal