Facts Behind

Traditional Practices

U. Indira PriyadharshiniS. Karthika

Most of the Hindu customs and traditions had some scientific reason behind them.

Most of the Hindu customs and traditions are derived from our ancestors.

Traditions and customs were taught at a very young age and followed as part of life. 

ScienceIn respect to this presentation, Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm for superstition.

SuperstitionA superstition is a false belief based on ignorance. Its origin cannot be traced back to any particular race, religion or geographical area.

Joining both palms together to greet

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!

Why Ancient people provide drinks in Silver Tumblers?

 Scientifically, the silver Metal served a specific purpose for the host.

The metal was germicidal and so it helped prevent any

infection that the guests might carry inside.

START ALWAYS WITH SPICY FOOD AND END YOUR MEAL

WITH SWEETSThe 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.

DO NOT TAKE BATH IMMEDIATELY AFTER EATING

If a person is immediately taking bath after a meal, the digestion process gets slowed down by a

great deal as cold water activates certain chemicals

in the body that rushes the blood to the skin to keep it warm and the digestion process takes

a backseat. Bath will increase blood flow to the hands, feet and body that causes the amount of blood

around the stomach will continue to decrease. This will

weaken the digestive system in our stomach.

So, it was always advised by our ancestors to take food after

having a bath.

APPLYING HENNA BEFORE AUSPICIOUS OCCASIONS

Our ancestors have advised applying henna to hands, to the bottom of the feet, and hair, etc., especially at the

onset of rainy season.This was because during rainy season, the susceptibility to get infected by germs was manifold and henna’s anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties were believed to

fight those germs. Though henna is seen as an

adornment, scientifically, henna extracts show

antibacterial, antifungal, and ultraviolet light screening

activity.

Plastering floor with Cow Dung is auspicious

. Cow dung  plaster is considered auspicious just like any other product of a cow. Hence, mostly all rituals dictate the usage of cow dung to plaster the floor. Our ancestors probably started this practice to guard against insects and reptiles which are repelled by the pungent smell of cow dung. They did not have the luxury to buy bottled commercial disinfectants like we do. But over time this practice became a ritual and we find ourselves following it in spite of it being redundant in the contemporary world.

Shanking legs brings bad luck ?

Shaking legs bad luck in the family.

The reason our body unintentionally shakes our legs is in order to maintain body heat by

regulating the temperature.

How can it be related to the invitation of some sort of bad

luck?

After attending a funeral, why to take bath and why cooking is not

done in those houses?This is preventing any

infection from the funeral house. This is more prevalent

in the villages. I.e. Every person visiting the house of the dead person during the

mourning period is believed to suffer from pollution. The

first thing; he is expected to do on leaving the house of the

dead person is to have purificatory bath. Only after

this bath, they have to drink off even a glass of water or to eat and enter the main parts of his own house. The house where

death was occurred is considered polluted and

cooking is not done for few days. The neighbors supply

them food.

Why do elders rotate crystal salt, lemon around head?

Salt can be considered as the first antibiotic. Not only that,

the salty and acidic substances would less affect

the magnetic field. The salt and lemon when

revolved around, it would kill all the bacteria around the person. It forms an aura

layer of antibiotics around the person. Not only has this, revolving around the person balance the magnetic field too. This would make the

person affected with drastic feel better.

Why should Tulsi not be chewed with teeth?

It is a popular belief that Tulsi is the wife of Lord Vishnu; therefore, chewing it will be a mark of disrespect.

However, botanists, in the course of their research, found that Tulsi plant has the maximum of mercury. If raw mercury is applied to teeth, they fall immediately.

That’s why in Hindu religion, Tulsi leaves are not chewed but swallowed.

While leaving home, if someone asks, “Where are you going?” the work you’ve set out for will not happen

What if a bus conductor asks you the same question?

Thank you….!!!