Hindu practices are just superstitious or they have a great reason behind them?

[Guest guest]

Most people( i regret to say that even hindu's) in the world have many different opinions on hindu approach and some communities(Better not to mention) comment at hindu ways of worship also going far beyond limits by callling them idolators .. etc

Tired of hearing that we are kaafirs

 

Here are few things which we do and why we do

Part - 1 * Why do we light a lamp? * Why do we have a prayer room?* Why do we do namaste?* Why do we prostrate before parents & elders?* Why do we wear marks on the forehead?* Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?* Why do we apply holy ash?* Why do we offer food to the Lord before eating it?* Why do we do pradakshina?Why do we light a lamp?In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altarof theLord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day at dawnand dusk- and in a few it is maintained continuously (akhanda deepa). Allauspicious functions and moments like daily worship, rituals andfestivals and even many social occasions like inaugurations commence with thelighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness ignorance. The Lord is the"Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivenerand the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the LordHimself.Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Alsoknowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievements can beaccomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as thegreatest of all forms of wealth. Knowledge backs all our actionswhether good or bad. We therefore keep a lamp lit during all auspiciousoccasion as a witness to our thoughts and actions.Why not light a bulb or tube light then? That too would remove darkness.But thetraditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil orghee in the lamp symbolizes our "vaasnas" or negative tendencies and thewick,the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the "vaasnas" get slowlyexhaustedand the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burnsupwards.Similarly, we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towardshigher ideals.A single lamp can light hundreds more just as a man of knowledge cangive it to many more. The brilliance of the light does not diminish despiteits repeated use to light many more lamps. So too knowledge does notlessen when shared with or imparted to others. On the contrary it increases inclarity and conviction on giving. It benefits both the receiver and thegiver.Why do we have a prayer room?Most Hindu homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is litand the Lord worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like "japa"(repetition of the Lord's name), meditation, "paaraayana" (reading ofthe scriptures), prayers, devotional singing etc. is also done here.Special worship is done on auspicious occasions like birthdays, anniversaries,festivals and the like. Each member of the family - young or old -communes with and worships the Divine here.The Lord is the owner of the entire creation. He is therefore thetrue owner of the house we live in too. The prayer room is the master room of thehouse. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner ofour homes and ourselves as the caretakers of His home. But if this ratherdifficult, we could at least think of Him as a very welcome guest.Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort, so, too wefelicitate the Lord's presence in our homes by having a prayer room or altar,which is, at all times, kept clean and well decorated.Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our homewith us, we have prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no taskcan be successfully or easily accomplished. We invoke His grace by communingwith Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions.Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like bedroomfor resting and sleeping, the drawing room to receive guests, the kitchenfor cooking etc. the furniture, décor and the atmosphere of each room aremade conductive to the purpose it serves. So too for the purpose ofmeditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conductive atmosphere - hencethe need for a prayer room.Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influencethe minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrationsaccumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting donethere pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by justsitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated andspiritually uplifted.Why do we do namaste?Hindus greet each other with "namaste". The two palms areplaced together in front of the chest and the head bows while saying the word"namaste". This greeting is for all - people younger than us, of ourown age, those older than us, friends and even strangers.Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a culturalconvention or an act of worship. However there is much more to it than meets theeye.

In Sanskrit namah + te = namaste. It means - I bow to you - my greetings,salutations or prostration to you.Namaha can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). Ithas a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one's ego in thepresence of another.The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. Whenwe greet another, we do so with namaste, which means, "may our minds meet"indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of thehead is a gracious form of extending friendship in love and humility.The spiritual meaning is even deeper. The life force, the divinity, the Selfor the Lord in me is the same in all. Recognizing this oneness withthe meeting of the palms, we salute with head bowed the Divinity in theperson we meet. That is why sometimes, we close our eyes as we namaste to arevered person or the Lord as it to look within. The gesture is oftenaccompanied by words like "Ram Ram", "Jai Shri Krishna", "Jai Siya Ram", "Om Shanti"etc. - indicating the recognition of this divinity.When we know this significance, our greeting does not remain just asuperficial gesture or word but paves the way for a deeper communionwith another in an atmosphere of love and respect.Why do we prostrate before parents & elders?

Hindus prostrate to their parents, elders, teachers andnoble souls by touching their feet. The elders in turn bless by placing his/herhand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily, when we meet elders andparticularly on important occasions like the beginning of a new task,birthdays, festivals etc. In certain traditional circles, prostrationis accompanied by "abhivaadana" which serves to introduce oneself,announce one's family and social stature.Man stands on his feet. Touching the feet in prostration is a sign ofrespect for the age, maturity, nobility and divinity that our elderspersonify. It symbolizes our recognition of their selfless love forus and the sacrifices that they have made for our welfare. It is a way ofhumbly acknowledging the greatness of another. This tradition reflects thestrong family ties which has been of India's enduring strengths.The good wishes (sankalpa) and the blessings (aashirvaada) of eldersare highly valued in India. We prostrate to seek them. Good thoughtscreate positive vibrations. Good wishes springing from a heart full of love,divinity and nobility have a tremendous strength. When we prostratewith humility and respect, we invoke good wishes and blessings of elderswhich flow in the form of positive energy to envelop us. This is why theposture assumed whether it is in the standing or prone position, enables theentire body to receive the energy.The different forms of showing respect are :* Pratuthana - rising to welcome a person.* Namaskaara - paying homage in the form of namaste.* Upasangrahan - touching the feet of elders or teachers.* Shaashtaanga - prostrating fully with the full bodytouching theground in front of the elder.* Pratyabivaadana - returning a greeting.Rules are prescribed in our scripture as to who should prostrate towhom.Wealth, family name, age, moral strength and spiritual knowledge inascending order of importance qualified men to receive respect. Thisis whya king though a ruler of the land would prostrate before a spiritualmaster.Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata have many stories highlightingthisaspect.Why do we wear marks on the forehead?Most religious Indians, especially married women wear a tilak orpottu on the forehead. It is applied daily after the bath and on specialoccasions, before or after ritualistic worship or visit to the temple. In manycommunities, it is enjoined upon married women to sport a kum kum ontheir foreheads at all times. The orthodox put it on with due rituals. Thetilak is applied on saints and images of the Lord as a form of worship andin many parts of North India as a respectful form of welcome, to honourguests orwhen bidding farewell to a son or husband about to embark on anjourney. The tilak varies in colour and form.This custom was not prevalent in the Vedic period. it gainedpopularity in the Pauranic period. Some believe that it originated in South India.The tilak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer andothers. It is recognised as a religious mark. It form and colour varyaccording to one's caste, religious sect or the form of the Lord worshiped.In earlier times, the four castes (based on verna or color) -Braahmana,Kshatriya,Vaishya and Sudra - applied marks differently. Thebrahmin applied a white chandan (sandalwood paste) mark signifyingpurity as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The Kshatriyaapplied a red kum kum mark signifying valour as he belonged to the warriorraces. The Vaishya wore yellow kesar or termeric mark signifying properity as hewas a business man or trader devotted to creation of wealth. The sudraapplied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark signifying service as hesupport the work of the other three divisions. Also Lord Vishnu worshipers apply achandan tilak of the shape of "U", Lord Shiva worshipers applied atripundra bhasma, Devi worshippers applied red dot of kum kum.The chandan, kum kum or bhasma which is offered to the Lord is takenback as prasad and applied on foreheads. The tilak covers the spot betweenthe eye brows, which the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as the aajnachakra in the language of yoga. The tilak is applied with the prayer -"Mayi remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all myactivities. May Ibe righteous in my deeds". Even when we temporarily forget thisprayerfulattitude the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak isthus a blessing of the Lord and protection against wrong tendencies andforces.The entire body emanates energy in the form of electro-magneticwaves - the forehead and the subtle spot between the eye brows especially so.That is why worry generates heat and causes a headache. The tilak or pottucools the forehead, protects us and prevents energy loss. Sometimes, the entireforehead is covered with chandan or bhasma. Using plasticreusable 'stick bindis' is not very beneficial, even though it serves the purpose ofdecoration.This unique to Indians and helps to easily identify us anywhere.Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?In Indian homes, we are taught from a very young age, never to touchpapers, books and people with our feet. Of the feet accidentally touch papers,books, musical instruments or any other educational equipment,children are told to reverentially touch what was stamped with their hands andthen touch their eyes as a mark of apology.To Indians, knowledge is sacred and divine. So it must be givenrespect at all times. Nowadays we separate subjects as sacred and secular. But inancient India every subject - academic or spiritual was considereddivine and taught by the guru in the gurukul.The custom of not stepping on educational tools is a frequentreminder of the high position accorded to knowledge in the Indian culture. Froman early age this wisdom fosters in us a deep reverence for books andeducation. This is also the reason why we worship books, vehicles and instrumentsonce a year on Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja day, dedicated to theGoddess of Learning.Children are also strongly discouraged from touching people withtheir feet. Even if this happens accidentally, we touch the person and bring thefingers to our eyes as a mark of apology. Even when elders touch a youngerperson inadvertently with their feet, they immediately apologize.To touch another person with feet is considered an act of misdemeanorbecause: man is regarded as the most beautiful, living, breathingtemple of the lord! Therefore touching another person with feet is akin todisrespecting the divinity within him or her. This calls for animmediate apology, which is offered with reverence and humilityThus, many of our customs are designed to be simple but powerfulreminders or pointers of profound philosophical truths. This is one of thefactors that have kept Indian culture alive across centuries.Why do we apply holy ash?The ash of any burnt object is not regarded as holy ash. Bhasma (theholy ash) is the ash from the homa (sacrificial fire) where special woodalong with ghee and other herbs is offered by pouring ash as abhisheka andis then distributed as BhasmaBhasma is generally applied on the forehead. Some apply it on certainparts of the body, like the upper arms, chest etc. Some ascetics rub it allover the body. Many consume a pinch of it each time they receive it.The word Bhasma means "that by which our sins are destroyed and theLord is remembered". Bha implies bhartsanam ("to destroy") and sma impliessmaranam("to remember"). The application of Bhasma therefore signifiesdestruction of the evil and remembrance of the divine. Bhasma is called vibhuti(which means "glory") as it gives glory to one who applies and raksha (whichmeans a source of protection) as it protects the wearer from ill health andevil,by purifying him or her.Homa (offering of oblations into the fire with sacred mantras)signifies the offering or surrender of the ego and egocentric desires into theflame of knowledge or a noble and selfless cause. The consequent ash signifiesthe purity of the mind which results from such actions. Also the fire ofknowledge burns the oblation and wood signifying ignorance and inertiarespectively. The ash we apply indicates that we should burn falseidentification with body and become free of the limitations of birthand death.The application of ash also reminds us that body is perishable andshall one day be reduced to ashes. We should therefore not get too attached toit. Death can come at any moment and this awareness must increase ourdrive to make the best use of time. This is not to be misconstructed as amorose reminder of death but as a powerful pointer towards the fact thattime and tide wait for none.Bhasma is specially associated with Lord Shiva who applies it allover his body. lord Shiva devotees apply bhasma as a tripiundra. When appliedwith a red spot in the centre, the mark symbolizes Shiva-Shakti (the unity ofenergy and matter that creates the entire seen and un-seen universe)Ash is what remains when all the wood is burnt away and it does notdecay. Similarly, the Lord is the imperishable Truth that remains when theentire creation if innumerable names and forms is dissolved.Bhasma has medicinal value and is used in many ayurvedic medicines. Itabsorbs excess moisture from the body and prevents colds andheadaches. The Upanishads say that the famous Mrityunjaya mantra should be chantedwhile applying ash on the forehead.Why do we offer food to the Lord before eating it?In western tradition food is partaken after a thanks giving prayer -grace. Indians make an offering of it to the Lord and later partake of it asprasad- a holy gift from the Lord. in temples and in many homes, the cookedfood is first offered to the Lord each day. The offered food is mixed withthe rest of the food and then served as prasad. In our daily ritualisticworship (pooja) too we offer naivedyam (food to the Lord)This is done because: The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient. Man is apart, while the Lord is the totality. All that we do is by his strength andknowledge alone. Hence what we receive in life as a result of ouractions is really his alone. We acknowledge this thru the act of offering foodto him.This is exemplified by the Hindi words "Tera tujko arpan from theaarti "Jai Jagdesh Hare" - I offer what is yours to you. Thereafter it is akinto his gift to us, graced by his divine touch.Knowing this, our entire attitude to food and the act of eatingchanges. The food offered will naturally be pure and the best. We share what weget with others before consuming it. We do not demand, complain or criticizethe quality of the food we get. We do not waste or reject it. We eat itwith cheerful acceptance (prasad buddhi). When we become established inthis attitude, this goes beyond the pre-view of food and pervades ourentire life. We are then able to cheerfully accept all we get in life as hisprasad.Before we partake daily meals we first sprinkle water around theplate as an act of purification. Five morsels of food are placed on the side ofthe table acknowledging the debt owed by us to the:* Divine forces (devta runa) for their benign grace andprotection.* Our ancestors (pitru runa) for giving us their lineage andthefamily culture.* The sages (rishi runa) as our religion and culture have been"realized" maintained and handed down to us by them.* Our fellow beings (manushya runa) who constitute societywithoutthe support of which we could not live as we do and* Other living beings (bhuta runa) for serving us selflessly.There after the Lord, the life force, who is also within us as thefive life- giving physiological functions, is offered the food. The five life-giving functions are praanaaya (respiratory), apaanaaya (extretory),vyaanaaya(circulatory), udaanaaya (reversal) and samaanaaya (digestive). Afteroffering the food thus, it is eaten as prasad - blessed food.Why do we do pradakshina ?When we visit a temple. after offering prayers, we circumambulate thesantum sanctorum. This is called pradakshinaWe cannot draw a circle without a centre point. The Lord is thecentre, source and essence of our lives. Recognising Him as the focal pointin out lives, we go about doing our daily chores. This is the significance ofpradakshinaAlso every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant fromthe centre. This means that wherever or whoever we may be, we are equallyclose to the Lord. His grace flows towards us without partiality.The pradakshina is always down only in clockwise manner because, aswe do pradakshina the Lord is always on our right. In Hinduism, the rightside symbolises auspiciousness. It is a telling fact that even in theEnglish language it is called the "right" side and not the wrong one! So as wecircumambulate the sanctum sanctorum we remind ourselves to lead anauspicious life of righteousness, with the Lord to lead an auspiciouslife of righteousness, with the Lord who is the indispensable source ofhelp and strength, as our guide - the "right hand" - the dharma aspect of ourlives.We thereby overcome our wrong tendencies and avoid repeating the sinsof thepast.Indian scriptures enjoin - matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava,acharyadevo bhava. Meaning : May you consider your parents and teachers as youwould the Lord. With this in mind we also do pradakshina around our parents anddivine personages. The story of Lord Ganesh circumambulating his parents isa well known one.After the completion of traditional worship (pooja), we customarily dopradakshina around ourselves. In this way we recognise and rememberthe supreme divinity within us, which alone is idolised in the form ofthe Lord that we worship outside.

A last word to my dear terrorists ,

Sakal jagath me raam naam pandh gaaje,

Jage dharam hindu -tum sab ka bhand bajeey

[Guest guest]

Dear Kaushik ji,

 

This is a very good piece of sharing by You, and will help many in

knowing the " Why " of, what they do mechanically. I have not gone

through the whole article, and will do so on Sunday. But thought in the

meanwhile must let you know that its good.

 

regards/Bhaskar.

 

 

 

 

, " kaushik_buddy "

<kaushik_buddy wrote:

>

>

> Most people( i regret to say that even hindu's) in the world have many

> different opinions on hindu approach and some communities(Better not

to

> mention) comment at hindu ways of worship also going far beyond limits

> by callling them idolators .. etc

>

> Tired of hearing that we are kaafirs

>

>

>

> Here are few things which we do and why we do

>

> Part - 1

> * Why do we light a lamp?

> * Why do we have a prayer room?

> * Why do we do namaste?

> * Why do we prostrate before parents & elders?

> * Why do we wear marks on the forehead?

> * Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?

> * Why do we apply holy ash?

> * Why do we offer food to the Lord before eating it?

> * Why do we do pradakshina?

>

> Why do we light a lamp?

>

> In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar

> of theLord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day at

> dawn

> and dusk- and in a few it is maintained continuously (akhanda deepa).

> All

> auspicious functions and moments like daily worship, rituals and

> festivals and even many social occasions like inaugurations commence

> with the

> lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the

> occasion.

>

> Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness ignorance. The Lord is the

> " Knowledge Principle " (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener

> and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the

> Lord

> Himself.

>

> Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also

> knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievements

can

> be

> accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the

> greatest of all forms of wealth. Knowledge backs all our actions

> whether good or bad. We therefore keep a lamp lit during all

auspicious

> occasion as a witness to our thoughts and actions.

>

> Why not light a bulb or tube light then? That too would remove

darkness.

> But thetraditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The

> oil or

> ghee in the lamp symbolizes our " vaasnas " or negative tendencies and

the

> wick,the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the " vaasnas " get

slowly

> exhaustedand the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always

> burns

> upwards.Similarly, we should acquire such knowledge as to take us

> towards

> higher ideals.

>

> A single lamp can light hundreds more just as a man of knowledge can

> give it to many more. The brilliance of the light does not diminish

> despite

> its repeated use to light many more lamps. So too knowledge does not

> lessen when shared with or imparted to others. On the contrary it

> increases in

> clarity and conviction on giving. It benefits both the receiver and

the

> giver.

>

>

> Why do we have a prayer room?

>

> Most Hindu homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit

> and the Lord worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like

" japa "

> (repetition of the Lord's name), meditation, " paaraayana " (reading of

> the scriptures), prayers, devotional singing etc. is also done here.

> Special worship is done on auspicious occasions like birthdays,

> anniversaries,

> festivals and the like. Each member of the family - young or old -

> communes with and worships the Divine here.

>

> The Lord is the owner of the entire creation. He is therefore the

> true owner of the house we live in too. The prayer room is the master

> room of the

> house. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.

>

> The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner of

> our homes and ourselves as the caretakers of His home. But if this

> rather

> difficult, we could at least think of Him as a very welcome guest.

> Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort, so, too

> we

> felicitate the Lord's presence in our homes by having a prayer room or

> altar,

> which is, at all times, kept clean and well decorated.

>

> Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our

home

> with us, we have prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no task

> can be successfully or easily accomplished. We invoke His grace by

> communing

> with Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions.

>

> Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like bedroom

> for resting and sleeping, the drawing room to receive guests, the

> kitchen

> for cooking etc. the furniture, décor and the atmosphere of each

room

> are

> made conductive to the purpose it serves. So too for the purpose of

> meditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conductive atmosphere

-

> hence

> the need for a prayer room.

>

> Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence

> the minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and

> vibrations

> accumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting done

> there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by

> just

> sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated and

> spiritually uplifted.

>

>

> Why do we do namaste?

>

> Hindus greet each other with " namaste " . The two palms are

> placed together in front of the chest and the head bows while saying

the

> word

> " namaste " . This greeting is for all - people younger than us, of our

> own age, those older than us, friends and even strangers.

>

> Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural

> convention or an act of worship. However there is much more to it than

> meets the

> eye.

>

> In Sanskrit namah + te = namaste. It means - I bow to you - my

> greetings,

> salutations or prostration to you.

>

> Namaha can also be literally interpreted as " na ma " (not mine). It

> has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one's ego in the

> presence of another.

>

> The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When

> we greet another, we do so with namaste, which means, " may our minds

> meet "

> indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down

> of the

> head is a gracious form of extending friendship in love and humility.

>

> The spiritual meaning is even deeper. The life force, the divinity,

the

> Self

> or the Lord in me is the same in all. Recognizing this oneness with

> the meeting of the palms, we salute with head bowed the Divinity in

the

> person we meet. That is why sometimes, we close our eyes as we namaste

> to a

> revered person or the Lord as it to look within. The gesture is often

> accompanied by words like " Ram Ram " , " Jai Shri Krishna " , " Jai Siya

Ram " ,

> " Om Shanti "

> etc. - indicating the recognition of this divinity.

>

>

>

> When we know this significance, our greeting does not remain just a

> superficial gesture or word but paves the way for a deeper communion

> with another in an atmosphere of love and respect.

>

>

>

> Why do we prostrate before parents & elders?

>

> Hindus prostrate to their parents, elders, teachers and

> noble souls by touching their feet. The elders in turn bless by

placing

> his/her

> hand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily, when we meet

> elders and

> particularly on important occasions like the beginning of a new task,

> birthdays, festivals etc. In certain traditional circles, prostration

> is accompanied by " abhivaadana " which serves to introduce oneself,

> announce one's family and social stature.

>

> Man stands on his feet. Touching the feet in prostration is a sign of

> respect for the age, maturity, nobility and divinity that our elders

> personify. It symbolizes our recognition of their selfless love for

> us and the sacrifices that they have made for our welfare. It is a way

> of

> humbly acknowledging the greatness of another. This tradition reflects

> the

> strong family ties which has been of India's enduring strengths.

>

> The good wishes (sankalpa) and the blessings (aashirvaada) of elders

> are highly valued in India. We prostrate to seek them. Good thoughts

> create positive vibrations. Good wishes springing from a heart full of

> love,

> divinity and nobility have a tremendous strength. When we prostrate

> with humility and respect, we invoke good wishes and blessings of

elders

> which flow in the form of positive energy to envelop us. This is why

the

> posture assumed whether it is in the standing or prone position,

enables

> the

> entire body to receive the energy.

>

> The different forms of showing respect are :

>

> * Pratuthana - rising to welcome a person.

>

> * Namaskaara - paying homage in the form of namaste.

>

> * Upasangrahan - touching the feet of elders or teachers.

>

> * Shaashtaanga - prostrating fully with the full body

> touching the

> ground in front of the elder.

>

> * Pratyabivaadana - returning a greeting.

>

> Rules are prescribed in our scripture as to who should prostrate to

> whom.

> Wealth, family name, age, moral strength and spiritual knowledge in

> ascending order of importance qualified men to receive respect. This

> is why

> a king though a ruler of the land would prostrate before a spiritual

> master.

> Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata have many stories highlighting

> this

> aspect.

>

>

>

> Why do we wear marks on the forehead?

>

> Most religious Indians, especially married women wear a tilak or

> pottu on the forehead. It is applied daily after the bath and on

special

> occasions, before or after ritualistic worship or visit to the temple.

> In many

> communities, it is enjoined upon married women to sport a kum kum on

> their foreheads at all times. The orthodox put it on with due rituals.

> The

> tilak is applied on saints and images of the Lord as a form of worship

> and

> in many parts of North India as a respectful form of welcome, to

honour

> guests orwhen bidding farewell to a son or husband about to embark on

an

> journey. The tilak varies in colour and form.

>

> This custom was not prevalent in the Vedic period. it gained

> popularity in the Pauranic period. Some believe that it originated in

> South India.

>

> The tilak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and

> others. It is recognised as a religious mark. It form and colour vary

> according to one's caste, religious sect or the form of the Lord

> worshiped.

>

> In earlier times, the four castes (based on verna or color) -

> Braahmana,Kshatriya,Vaishya and Sudra - applied marks differently. The

> brahmin applied a white chandan (sandalwood paste) mark signifying

> purity as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The

> Kshatriya

> applied a red kum kum mark signifying valour as he belonged to the

> warrior

> races. The Vaishya wore yellow kesar or termeric mark signifying

> properity as he

> was a business man or trader devotted to creation of wealth. The sudra

> applied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark signifying service as

> he

> support the work of the other three divisions. Also Lord Vishnu

> worshipers apply a

> chandan tilak of the shape of " U " , Lord Shiva worshipers applied a

> tripundra bhasma, Devi worshippers applied red dot of kum kum.

>

> The chandan, kum kum or bhasma which is offered to the Lord is taken

> back as prasad and applied on foreheads. The tilak covers the spot

> between

> the eye brows, which the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as

the

> aajna

> chakra in the language of yoga. The tilak is applied with the prayer -

> " May

> i remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all my

> activities. May I

> be righteous in my deeds " . Even when we temporarily forget this

> prayerful

> attitude the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak is

> thus a blessing of the Lord and protection against wrong tendencies

and

> forces.

>

> The entire body emanates energy in the form of electro-magnetic

> waves - the forehead and the subtle spot between the eye brows

> especially so.

> That is why worry generates heat and causes a headache. The tilak or

> pottu

> cools the forehead, protects us and prevents energy loss. Sometimes,

the

> entire

> forehead is covered with chandan or bhasma. Using plastic

> reusable 'stick bindis' is not very beneficial, even though it serves

> the purpose of

> decoration.

>

> This unique to Indians and helps to easily identify us anywhere.

>

>

> Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?

>

> In Indian homes, we are taught from a very young age, never to touch

> papers, books and people with our feet. Of the feet accidentally touch

> papers,

> books, musical instruments or any other educational equipment,

> children are told to reverentially touch what was stamped with their

> hands and

> then touch their eyes as a mark of apology.

>

> To Indians, knowledge is sacred and divine. So it must be given

> respect at all times. Nowadays we separate subjects as sacred and

> secular. But in

> ancient India every subject - academic or spiritual was considered

> divine and taught by the guru in the gurukul.

>

> The custom of not stepping on educational tools is a frequent

> reminder of the high position accorded to knowledge in the Indian

> culture. From

> an early age this wisdom fosters in us a deep reverence for books and

> education. This is also the reason why we worship books, vehicles and

> instruments

> once a year on Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja day, dedicated to the

> Goddess of Learning.

>

> Children are also strongly discouraged from touching people with

> their feet. Even if this happens accidentally, we touch the person and

> bring the

> fingers to our eyes as a mark of apology. Even when elders touch a

> younger

> person inadvertently with their feet, they immediately apologize.

>

> To touch another person with feet is considered an act of misdemeanor

> because: man is regarded as the most beautiful, living, breathing

> temple of the lord! Therefore touching another person with feet is

akin

> to

> disrespecting the divinity within him or her. This calls for an

> immediate apology, which is offered with reverence and humility

>

> Thus, many of our customs are designed to be simple but powerful

> reminders or pointers of profound philosophical truths. This is one of

> the

> factors that have kept Indian culture alive across centuries.

>

> Why do we apply holy ash?

>

> The ash of any burnt object is not regarded as holy ash. Bhasma (the

> holy ash) is the ash from the homa (sacrificial fire) where special

wood

> along with ghee and other herbs is offered by pouring ash as abhisheka

> and

> is then distributed as Bhasma

>

> Bhasma is generally applied on the forehead. Some apply it on certain

> parts of the body, like the upper arms, chest etc. Some ascetics rub

it

> all

> over the body. Many consume a pinch of it each time they receive it.

>

> The word Bhasma means " that by which our sins are destroyed and the

> Lord is remembered " . Bha implies bhartsanam ( " to destroy " ) and sma

> implies

> smaranam( " to remember " ). The application of Bhasma therefore signifies

> destruction of the evil and remembrance of the divine. Bhasma is

called

> vibhuti

> (which means " glory " ) as it gives glory to one who applies and raksha

> (which

> means a source of protection) as it protects the wearer from ill

health

> and

> evil,by purifying him or her.

>

> Homa (offering of oblations into the fire with sacred mantras)

> signifies the offering or surrender of the ego and egocentric desires

> into the

> flame of knowledge or a noble and selfless cause. The consequent ash

> signifies

> the purity of the mind which results from such actions. Also the fire

of

> knowledge burns the oblation and wood signifying ignorance and inertia

> respectively. The ash we apply indicates that we should burn false

> identification with body and become free of the limitations of birth

> and death.

>

> The application of ash also reminds us that body is perishable and

> shall one day be reduced to ashes. We should therefore not get too

> attached to

> it. Death can come at any moment and this awareness must increase our

> drive to make the best use of time. This is not to be misconstructed

as

> a

> morose reminder of death but as a powerful pointer towards the fact

that

> time and tide wait for none.

>

> Bhasma is specially associated with Lord Shiva who applies it all

> over his body. lord Shiva devotees apply bhasma as a tripiundra. When

> applied

> with a red spot in the centre, the mark symbolizes Shiva-Shakti (the

> unity of

> energy and matter that creates the entire seen and un-seen universe)

>

> Ash is what remains when all the wood is burnt away and it does not

> decay. Similarly, the Lord is the imperishable Truth that remains when

> the

> entire creation if innumerable names and forms is dissolved.

>

> Bhasma has medicinal value and is used in many ayurvedic medicines. It

> absorbs excess moisture from the body and prevents colds and

> headaches. The Upanishads say that the famous Mrityunjaya mantra

should

> be chanted

> while applying ash on the forehead.

>

> Why do we offer food to the Lord before eating it?

>

> In western tradition food is partaken after a thanks giving prayer -

> grace. Indians make an offering of it to the Lord and later partake of

> it as

> prasad- a holy gift from the Lord. in temples and in many homes, the

> cooked

> food is first offered to the Lord each day. The offered food is mixed

> with

> the rest of the food and then served as prasad. In our daily

ritualistic

> worship (pooja) too we offer naivedyam (food to the Lord)

>

> This is done because: The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient. Man is a

> part, while the Lord is the totality. All that we do is by his

strength

> and

> knowledge alone. Hence what we receive in life as a result of our

> actions is really his alone. We acknowledge this thru the act of

> offering food

> to him.

> This is exemplified by the Hindi words " Tera tujko arpan from the

> aarti " Jai Jagdesh Hare " - I offer what is yours to you. Thereafter it

> is akin

> to his gift to us, graced by his divine touch.

>

> Knowing this, our entire attitude to food and the act of eating

> changes. The food offered will naturally be pure and the best. We

share

> what we

> get with others before consuming it. We do not demand, complain or

> criticize

> the quality of the food we get. We do not waste or reject it. We eat

it

> with cheerful acceptance (prasad buddhi). When we become established

in

> this attitude, this goes beyond the pre-view of food and pervades our

> entire life. We are then able to cheerfully accept all we get in life

as

> his

> prasad.

>

> Before we partake daily meals we first sprinkle water around the

> plate as an act of purification. Five morsels of food are placed on

the

> side of

> the table acknowledging the debt owed by us to the:

>

> * Divine forces (devta runa) for their benign grace and

> protection.

> * Our ancestors (pitru runa) for giving us their lineage and

> the

> family culture.

> * The sages (rishi runa) as our religion and culture have been

> " realized " maintained and handed down to us by them.

> * Our fellow beings (manushya runa) who constitute society

> without

> the support of which we could not live as we do and

> * Other living beings (bhuta runa) for serving us selflessly.

>

> There after the Lord, the life force, who is also within us as the

> five life- giving physiological functions, is offered the food. The

five

> life-

> giving functions are praanaaya (respiratory), apaanaaya

> (extretory),vyaanaaya

> (circulatory), udaanaaya (reversal) and samaanaaya (digestive). After

> offering the food thus, it is eaten as prasad - blessed food.

>

> Why do we do pradakshina ?

>

>

> When we visit a temple. after offering prayers, we circumambulate the

> santum sanctorum. This is called pradakshina

>

> We cannot draw a circle without a centre point. The Lord is the

> centre, source and essence of our lives. Recognising Him as the focal

> point

> in out lives, we go about doing our daily chores. This is the

> significance of

> pradakshina

>

> Also every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant from

> the centre. This means that wherever or whoever we may be, we are

> equally

> close to the Lord. His grace flows towards us without partiality.

>

> The pradakshina is always down only in clockwise manner because, as

> we do pradakshina the Lord is always on our right. In Hinduism, the

> right

> side symbolises auspiciousness. It is a telling fact that even in the

> English language it is called the " right " side and not the wrong one!

So

> as we

> circumambulate the sanctum sanctorum we remind ourselves to lead an

> auspicious life of righteousness, with the Lord to lead an auspicious

> life of righteousness, with the Lord who is the indispensable source

of

> help and strength, as our guide - the " right hand " - the dharma aspect

> of our

> lives.

> We thereby overcome our wrong tendencies and avoid repeating the sins

> of the

> past.

>

> Indian scriptures enjoin - matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava,

> acharyadevo bhava. Meaning : May you consider your parents and

teachers

> as you

> would the Lord. With this in mind we also do pradakshina around our

> parents and

> divine personages. The story of Lord Ganesh circumambulating his

parents

> is

> a well known one.

>

> After the completion of traditional worship (pooja), we customarily do

> pradakshina around ourselves. In this way we recognise and remember

> the supreme divinity within us, which alone is idolised in the form of

> the Lord that we worship outside.

>

>

> A last word to my dear terrorists ,

>

> Sakal jagath me raam naam pandh gaaje,

>

> Jage dharam hindu -tum sab ka bhand bajeey

>