———-  Science Behind  the Traditions

> Traditions
> in Hinduism were considered mainly as superstitions,
> but
> with the advent of science,
> it is becoming evident that these
> traditions
> are based on some scientific knowledge and moved from
> generations to generations as
> traditions.
> Though the common people did
> not know
> science in it, they were following it very faithfully
> over
> the years.
> This blog is an attempt to bring forward the science
> involved
> in these traditions and rituals…
>
> 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. Joining
> Both Palms together to Greet: In Hindu culture,
> people
> greet each
> other by joining their palms – termed as “Namaskar.”
> The
> general
> reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining
> both
> the palms
> means respect. However, scientifically speaking,
> joining
> both hands
> ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together;
> which
> are
> denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind.
> Pressing
> them
> together is said to activate the pressure points which helps
> us
> remember
> that person for a long time. And, no germs since we
> don’t
> make any
> physical contact!
>
> 3. 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.
>
> 4.
> Applying
> Tilak on the Forehead: On the forehead, between the
> two
> eyebrows,
> is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in
> human
> body since
> ancient times. The Tilak is believed to prevent the loss
> of
> “energy”,
> the red ‘kumkum’ between the eyebrows is said to
> retain
> energy in
> the human body and control the various levels of
> concentration.
> While applying kumkum the points on the mid-brow
> region
> and
> Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This also
> facilitates the
> blood
> supply to the face muscles.
>
> 5.
> Why do Temples 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.
>
> 6. 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.
>
> 7. Why do
> we worship Tulsi Plant: Hindu religion has bestowed
> ‘Tulsi’,
> with the
> status of mother. Also known as ‘Sacred or Holy
> Basil’,
> Tulsi, has
> been recognized as a religious and
> spiritual devout in many
> parts of
> the world. The vedic sages knew the benefits of Tulsi
> and
> that is
> why they personified it as a Goddess and gave a clear
> message
> to the
> entire community that it needs to be taken care of by
> the
> people,
> literate or illiterate. We try to protect it because it
> is
> like
> Sanjeevani for the mankind. Tulsi has great medicinal
> properties.
> It is a
> remarkable
> antibiotic. Taking Tulsi everyday in tea or
> otherwise
> increases immunity and help the drinker prevent
> diseases,
> stabilize
> his or her health condition, balance his or her body
> system
> and most
> important of all, prolong his or her life. Keeping
> Tulsi
> plant at
> home prevents insects and mosquitoes from entering the
> house.
> It is
> said that snakes do not dare to go near a Tulsi plant.
> Maybe
> that
> is why ancient people would grow lots of Tulsi near their
> houses.
>
> 8. Why do
> we worship 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.
>
> 9. 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.
>
> 10. 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.
>
> 11.
> 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.
>
> 12.
> Celebration & Cleaning During Diwali: Diwali usually
> falls in
> October or
> November which marks the start of winter season and end
> of
> rainy
> season. Rainy season wasn’t a good time for everyone
> back then;
> many homes
> needed repair and renovation after a heavy fall. That
> is
> why time
> before diwali was considered the period during which
> everyone
> can
> indulge in cleaning and beautification of
> their home. And also
> take out
> their winter clothes and pack the summer ones.
>
> 13.
> 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.
>
> 14. Why
> not to sleep with Your Head towards North: Myth is that
> it
> invites
> ghost or death but science says that it is because human
> body
> has its
> own magnetic field (Also known as hearts magnetic
> field,
> because
> the flow of blood) and Earth is a giant magnet. When we
> sleep
> with head
> towards north, our body’s magnetic field become
> completely
> asymmetrical
> to the Earth’s Magnetic field. That cause
> problems
> related to
> blood pressure and our heart needs to work harder in
> order
> to
> overcome this asymmetry of Magnetic fields. Apart from this
> another
> reason is
> that Our body have significant amount of iron in our
> blood.
> When we
> sleep in this position, iron from the whole body starts
> to
> congregate
> in brain. This can cause headache, Alzheimer’s
> Disease,
> Cognitive
> Decline, Parkinson disease and brain degeneration.
>
> 15. Surya
> Namaskar: Hindus have a tradition of paying regards to
> Sun
> God early
> in the morning by their water offering ritual. It was
> mainly
> because
> looking at Sun rays through water or
> directly at that time of
> the day is
> good for eyes and also by waking up to follow this
> routine,
> we become
> prone to a morning lifestyle and mornings are proven to
> be
> the most
> effective part of the day.
>
> 16. Ear
> Piercing in Children: Piercing the ears has a great
> importance
> in Indian
> ethos. Indian physicians and philosophers believe
> that
> piercing
> the ears
> helps in the development of intellect, power of
> thinking
> and decision making faculties. Talkativeness fritters
> away
> life
> energy. Ear piercing helps in speech-restraint. It helps
> to
> reduce
> impertinent behaviour and the ear-channels become free
> from
> disorders.
> This idea appeals to the Western world as well, and so
> they
> are
> getting their ears pierced to wear fancy earrings as a mark
> of
> fashion.
>
> 17.
> Application of Sindoor or Vermillion: It is interesting to
> note
> that that
> the application of sindoor by married women carries a
> physiological
> significance. This is so because Sindoor is prepared
> by
> mixing
> turmeric-lime and the metal mercury. Due to its
> intrinsic
> properties,
> mercury, besides controlling blood pressure also
> activates
> sexual
> drive. This also explains why Sindoor is prohibited for
> the
> widows.
> For best results, Sindoor should be applied right upto
> the
> pituitary
> gland where all our feelings are centered. Mercury is
> also
> known for
> removing stress and strain.
>
> 18. The
> scientific explanation of ouching Feet(charan
> sparsh):
> Usually,
> the person of whose feet you are touching is either old
> or
> pious.
> When they accept your respect which came from your reduced
> ego
> (and is
> called your shraddha) their hearts emit positive thoughts
> and
> energy
> (which is called their karuna) which reaches you through
> their
> hands and
> toes. In essence, the completed circuit enables flow
> of
> energy and
> increases cosmic energy, switching on a quick connect
> between
> two minds and hearts. To an extent, the same is
> achieved
> through
> handshakes and hugs. The nerves that start from our
> brain
> spread
> across all your body. These nerves or wires end in
> the
> fingertips
> of your hand and feet. When you join the fingertips of
> your
> hand to
> those of their opposite feet, a circuit is immediately
> formed
> and the
> energies of two bodies are connected. Your fingers and
> palms
> become the
> ‘receptor’ of energy and the feet of other person
> become
> the
> ‘giver’ of energy.
>
> 19. Why do
> we Fast: The underlying principle behind fasting is to
> be
> found in
> Ayurveda. This ancient Indian medical system sees the
> basic
> cause of
> many diseases as the accumulation of toxic materials in
> the
> digestive
> system. Regular cleansing of toxic materials keeps
> one
> healthy.
> By fasting, the digestive organs get rest
> and all body
> mechanisms
> are cleansed and corrected. A complete fast is good
> for
> heath, and
> the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the
> period
> of fasting
> prevents the flatulence. Since the human body, as
> explained
> by
> Ayurveda, is composed of 80% liquid and 20% solid, like the
> earth,
> the
> gravitational force of the moon affects the fluid contents
> of the
> body. It
> causes emotional
> imbalances in the body, making some people
> tense,
> irritable and violent. Fasting acts as antidote, for it
> lowers
> the acid
> content in the body which helps people to retain
> their
> sanity.
> Research suggests there are major health benefits to
> caloric
> restriction
> like reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular
> diseases,
> diabetes,
> immune disorders etc.
>
> 20. Why
> Idol
> Worship: Hinduism propagates idol worship more than
> any
> other
> religion. Researchers say that this was initiated for
> the
> purpose of
> increasing concentration during prayers. According to
> psychiatrists,
> a man will shape his thoughts as per what he sees. If
> you have 3
> different objects in front of you, your thinking will
> change
> according to the object you are viewing. Similarly, in
> ancient
> India,
> idol worship was established so that when people view idols
> it
> is easy for
> them to concentrate to gain spiritual energy and
> meditate
> without
> mental diversion.
>
> 21. Why do
> Indian Women wear Bangles: Normally the wrist portion is
> in
> constant
> activation on any human. Also the pulse beat in this
> portion
> is mostly
> checked for all sorts of ailments. The Bangles used by
> women
> are
> normally in the wrist part of ones hand and its constant
> friction
> increases
> the blood circulation level. Further more the
> electricity
> passing out
> through outer skin is again reverted to one’s own
> body
> because of the ring shaped
> bangles, which has no ends to pass the
> energy outside but to send it back to
> the body.

Source:::: Unknown…. Input from a friend of mine

Natarajan