India is a gorgeous place with innumerable customs and rituals. Despite having observed or been a part of this alternative view, we seem unable to appreciate some rites and regard them as superstitious and meaningless. It is fundamental to ask a question in order to avoid a progressive slide into chaos in our society, but it is extremely vital to seek answers and be responsive to answers that others could find.
Attempts
have been made and again and again to illustrate that the rituals we now call
superstitions were formerly possibly the best scientific procedures. With the
passage of time and the establishment of a complex society, this information
became highly inaccessible, and only the rituals were gradually transmitted,
rather than the logic behind them. Read the entire article; I am confident you
will be astonished and proud to learn how intelligent our forefathers were in
creating diverse traditions and beliefs for our overall quality of life.
This
is just an attempt to explain the logic behind all of our forefathers' ancient
practices.
1. Significance of Navarathri
Navarathri is a Hindu festival that takes place every year in the autumn season. Navarathri, which literally means "nine fortunate nights," is celebrated twice a year, first in the summer and again in the winter. The pattern is honoured at the two junctures of seasonal transition, if you pay attention. As the seasons change, so does the interior chemistry of humans. During this time, the body's immunity begins to deteriorate. Because we are more susceptible to illnesses, fasting has been discovered to be an effective strategy to deal with the condition.
Even if you are not fasting, keeping your diet light throughout the navarathris is recommended. This so-called superstition was a clever half-yearly cleansing programme as well as a means to prevent infections. Fasting has been proven to be beneficial by both ayurveda and modern science. Even spiritually, navarathri nights were more conducive to sadhana for ancient seers and saints. Overall, navarathri provides a chance for people to progress both physically and spiritually.
2. Peepal tree significance
Lord Vishnu also seems to have been born under the Peepal tree and to have hidden over here for a long time when the devils had defeated all the devatas. On Saturdays, the goddess Lakshmi is said to dwell in the Peepal tree, which is why women worship the tree for so many boons and blessings. Ever wondered why is the people pre-worshipped this is because the people tree exhales and extremely high amounts of oxygen during the day. Women were advised to walk around the people tree early in the morning for ideal hormonal balance and easy conception. The purpose of keeping an idol was to give them all the more reason to follow this practice diligently.
Apart from this ayurvedic scriptures, talk about numerous medicinal uses of various parts of the peepal tree. Then you might have also heard someone saying that ghost resides on the branches of the people tree at night the fact is that the people treat due to its dense nature also releases very high carbon dioxide during the night. Naturally anyone sleeping under the people tree will be oxygen deprived, so this is nothing but a good example of how metaphoric language was used to simplify something complex which later gets construed as a superstition.
For Buddhists, the Peepal tree offers symbolic importance even though it is claimed that Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under it. As a result, the Peepal tree is also known as Bodhi tree.
3. Signficance of worshipping Tulsi plant
The Tulsi, also known as the Vrinda, is thought to be the entrance to Vaikuntha, Lord Vishnu's dwelling. As a result, he aids followers in their pursuit of Moksha, the ultimate objective. Why is the tulsi plant considered sacred? Well it is a natural antibiotic reduces stress increases immunity, longevity and has a peculiar ability to keep the insects, mosquitoes and snakes at bay. Tulsi's presence helps to ward off evil and negativity. Today even modern scientific research has acknowledged its medicinal properties. Because the plant contains therapeutic characteristics, it is used to treat common colds, coughs, and other illnesses. It also aids in the immune system's improvement.
4. Aesthetic appeal for women
How many of you have wondering if the cosmetics applied by Indian ladies has any reason other than attractive appearance? Eyeliner was created as a technique to apply prepared herbal medicines to just the eyes mainly to wash, relax, and protect them against illness. Gold jewellery is not only a prestige symbol for Indian ladies, but it also helps to control metabolic rate and boost the immune system. Then you'll be surprised to learn that the bracelets, nose pins, earrings, and necklaces were all clever ways of regularly hitting some acupressure sites that help people regulate their monthly periods and keep a healthy hormone levels.
5. Significance of applying mehendi
During weddings, bride and grooms apply mehendi on the hand and feet, as mehendi leaves produce a cooling effect and reduce stress of the busy wedding days.
6. Significance of Indian pooja rituals
Rituals have a specific meaning attached to them. Have you ever wondered why Indian puja entails so many specific rituals? Whether it's a temple, mosque, or gurudwara, they are all sites that have a lot of positive energy. Devotees are encouraged to enter the temple barefoot since pleasant vibrations are easily received through the feet. The cone shell would invariably be blown during a deity's arty, as it is being done today. The sound of the shank would reverberate throughout the village because communities were often small.
Individuals who were unable to make it to the temples would pause for some few moments and symbolically swear allegiance to the divine. This is accomplished in Islam by the azan, which is the prayer room for the faithful. The sound created by the shank is also thought to cleanse the atmosphere.
7. Significance of Tilak
8. Significance of yagna
Yagna is aa ritual practice with some special objective. Have you ever wondered why yagna was performed? It might seem like a futile exercise of burning heat herbs etc to ashes, although it is a sophisticated process practice since the vedic times to purify the surroundings.
9. Significance of pooja products
Many modern researchers too have acknowledged its benefits. Likewise, key lamps and agar bhattis were used to create a positive aura. Then there are some rituals in India which have a symbolic meaning. For example, when we offer a coconut at the feet of a deity we symbolically offer our own head implying total surrender to the divine by detaching our ego from the self.
10. Significance of Lotus flower
The lotus flower, which is also India's national flower, is utilised in poojas for a reason. Even though it is constantly submerged in water, the lotus leaf never becomes wet, signifying the wise man who is unaffected by grief or delight.
11. Significance of camphor
If you have ever observed when camphor burns it leaves behind nothing at all but a soothing fragrance. Its use in the puja is also to mark the burning of ego and purifying the environment. Practicing and understanding the deeper meanings of such rituals keeps the head light and ego low. Isn't it?
12. Significance of sleeping direction
If you sleep with your back to the north, you will get terrifying dreams. I'm sure you've heard this before, but there's a reason behind it. We all know that the earth is a giant magnet with north and south poles. Living in the northern hemisphere, there is a significant magnetic draw towards the poles; if we keep our heads to the north and stay in the same position for seven to eight hours, the magnetic force will exert undue pressure on our brain. This could also explain why, even after a long night's sleep, you sometimes feel sleepy. You may not have scary dreams, but it has a negative impact on your health. As a result, any direction other than north is acceptable. In Indian culture, to face east while sleeping is considered the best .
13. Significance of prayer before meal
Do you know what is the concept behind doing a prayer before a meal. The ancient practice of eating on the floor and sukhasana using your hands is highly effective in assimilating the maximum nutrition from the food. Let us take this forward and understand why Indian meal no matter which religion you came from always started with a prayer it's no brainer that prayer instantly calms down our mind and when we eat with a calm mind we are able to eat food with more awareness which again leads to better assimilation of nutrients.
14. Significance of eating
Our ancestors stress the fact that every meal should start with a spicy food and end with a sweet. What is the reason behind this theory? It is well known that when we eat spicy foods, the body secretes digestive juices ensuring a smooth and efficient digestion process. Thus a meal starts off with spicy courses first and sweets at the end not only gives us a pleasant taste, but are also associated with the feelings of fullness.
15. Significance of firewalking
Theemithi was originated in TamilNadu. It is now administered in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and South Africa, among other places. Theemithi is part of a bigger ceremonial that happens over a two-and-a-half-month period up to 18 distinct rites re-enacting parts of the Mahabharata. Draupadi, the Pandavas' wife, is worshipped during the Theemithi festival. Draupadi went across a bed of fire after the Battle of Kurukshetra and returned as pure as a blossom. Theemithi is a post of the same, which is said to grant a goddess's wish or blessing.
Ritual is amazing the insights our ancestors had about the subtle chemical functioning of our body, so this clearly explains how Indian superstitions were well thought of considering the various aspects of life. Coming to conclusion, I hope you get exciting answers behind these rituals practiced by our ancestors.
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