Hope this clears some may be not many of the doubts on what actually the reason is behind each of our rituals. Feels proud to know what has been discovered in recent centuries was known to the our people thousands of years ago. Been searching lately if there was any real reason for all the rituals we follow or supposed to follow. Found a few... hope it helps.
This is just to make ourselves aware of why we follow any custom instead of going with it blindly.
By the way as I said earlier I did some surfing. So there is nothing here I reasoned on my own.
1. Why do we join both palms together to greet others: Its the first and foremost thing that comes to our mind when we talk about Indian rituals. We feel its our way of giving respect to them.
Reason being the tips of our fingers have pressure points of eyes, ears and mind. Pressing them together activates the pressure points. So when we join our hands greeting others we unknowingly (till now) make sure that we remember them for long time.
2. Rangoli during month of December and January: Winter is at peak during December and January. Small insects, ants and other lower organisms that live under the soil cannot come out in winter for food.
So in the name of Sankranthi festival which is celebrated in the month of January, we put rangoli in front of our house i.e. we put rice powder on the ground providing food to these small insects and others.
3. Women Staying away from rituals during menstrual cycle: This is probably one of the most misinterpreted customs. In ancient days women used to undergo much more physical stress by going to the farms along with men, doing all the house hold chores, performing all the rituals related to festivals and any other occasions. During menstrual cycle they undergo physical and emotional changes because of which they don't have that much strength and concentration to perform their regular daily activities. So they were allowed to take rest.
Overtime this changed from "Women are allowed to take rest" to "Women are forbidden to come out".
4. Sati: Now this is the most misinterpreted and a classic example of following a tradition blindly without knowing anything about it. Sadly (believe it or not but) it is still being carried out in some areas in India. Sati is the act of a woman Immolating herself on the pyre of her dead husband. Here, there is no scientific reason for this.
Remember the three wives of dasharatha and Kunthi devi from Mahabratha. They were all widows through out the Epic right!
It is said to have started earlier way before 7th or 8th century during the invasions of muslim rulers from outside India, wherein the noble women preferred burning on the pyre along with their husbands rather than undergo humiliation, torture and disrespect at the hands of the invaders should their husbands die at the war. But slowly this turned into a custom of forcefully burning a women on the pyre of her husband. Fortunately we are in good times, but sadly the instances still exist.
5. Throwing currency coins into a river: This I guess everyone knows but still to reckon, it is believed to bring good luck when you throw your currency coins into a river. And the real story is from the ancient times when we used to have copper coins as currency till the Britishers invasion.
Based on the health benefits of intake of copper with water our ancestors made it a habit of putting copper coins in water when ever they come across rivers or lakes. Now there no point in throwing stainless steel currency coins into water.
6. Act of putting water around the plate while eating: Now a days this is followed in many of the south Indian houses especially brahmins. In ancient days where we didn't have tile or marble flooring but a mud floor, people used to put water around the plate while eating and also made it a habit to keep a small quantity of food outside the plate.
Water acts as a very good insect repellent. Earlier when we used to have mud floor this was done to make sure no insect or any other germs enter our plate while eating. Also if any they will get deviated towards the food that we kept outside the plate.
Similar to this there is another thing which says us not to eat in darkness. The reason being there was no electricity then and people used to have their dinner before it becomes too dark making sure we see what we are eating.
7. Wearing bindi on forehead:
It is said that the area between the two eyebrows on the forehead is the seat of concealed wisdom. And that the red kumkum placed on it retains the energy levels of human body and controls the level of concentration.
In olden days men also used to wear tilak. Even now a days some people wear. Widows wear holy ash. Married women are supposed to wear red bindi
It has an acupressure reason which says that pressing the spot between the eyebrows stimulates brain nerves and improve concentration. So our ancestors made it a custom for everyone to wear bindi and the colors different for unmarried, married women and a widow.
8. Tying mango leaves to the doors on festivals: It is said that the mango leaves tied in bunches are said to absorb negative energy from anyone entering the room. The mango leaves are tied to the doors not only during festivals but also on any auspicious occasions where usually a large crowd of our relatives and friends gather at our house.
Mango leaves even when taken off from tree last longer than others; so the photosynthesis action is performed for longer time. This helps in absorbing more carbondioxide and circulating fresh oxygen which in turn controls the temperature levels in the room and keep the room cooler. So this definitely helps when there's a gathering of people in a house.
9. Women applying turmeric paste to their feet: As said earlier in the olden days there used to be mud floors which were supposed to be soaked in water at regular intervals. And the then women used to stay mostly on this wet floor while cleaning the house with water, washing clothes, cleaning, cooking, cleaning utensils, bringing water from the river...
We all know that turmeric is a good antiseptic agent. So the women were advised to apply turmeric paste to their feet in order to avoid the ill effects of fungus and bacterial infections for continuously stepping/ staying on the wet mud floor.
10. Madi while cooking: This practice is still followed in some of the orthodox families of south India. It is the act of purifying physical body before cooking or performing any religious activity. And the most important thing is that they don't touch anything or anyone after they clean themselves until the task is finished.
There is no big secret or hidden reason for this act. It is just to purify ones body before cooking or doing any religious act. It is always advisable to clean oneself before cooking in order to avoid any germs or bacteria enter into the food.
But in recent times this custom is being misinterpreted. While those in madi are not supposed to touch anyone the others not in madi are being treated as untouchables.
11. Ornaments worn by women: Have you ever observed that all the ornaments worn below the waist part are usually made of silver and all above are made of gold. So before proceeding further lets be clarified on this.
We have this belief that gold is equivalent to Goddess Lakshmi. So out of respect we don't wear it on feet or lower part of the body. Where actually,
The metal silver being a good conductor absorbs energy from the polar energies of the earth and passes to the body thus refreshing whole body system. While metal gold dissipates it thus improving blood circulation, heart function...
Toe rings: Toe rings or metti are one of the "Solah Singaar" of a married Indian woman worn on the finger next to the toe on each foot.
It is said that the nerves related to the reproductive system of a woman run through these fingers. So on wearing these toe rings the constant friction created on these fingers while walking or doing all sort of chores during the day revitalizes the productivity organs and helps for pregnancy.
Ear steads: As per Human Anatomy it is said that, the nerve connecting brain, cervical and kidney passes through a human's right ear and if the pressure there could be controlled, then the kidney functioning can be just maintained and protected from damages.
So the continuous friction caused at the ear tips keeps the renal and bowel problems in control.
Anklets: These are usually made of silver and it was believed that wearing these one's energy will not be wasted and re-vibrated back into one's own body.
Thali or Mangalsutra: This is mostly made of gold and an identifiable mark for a married women. This too is believed to regularize a woman's blood circulation and blood pressure levels to a maximum extent, as Indian women tend to work hard, more than her male counterpart. The most important thing to note about this is that it should always be hidden or covered in the inner garments. Just because of the constant friction of the metal gold touching the body portion directly, the effect will be more to gain the said benefits.
So for now this is it. I'll come up with more if I find anything later.
So in the name of Sankranthi festival which is celebrated in the month of January, we put rangoli in front of our house i.e. we put rice powder on the ground providing food to these small insects and others.
3. Women Staying away from rituals during menstrual cycle: This is probably one of the most misinterpreted customs. In ancient days women used to undergo much more physical stress by going to the farms along with men, doing all the house hold chores, performing all the rituals related to festivals and any other occasions. During menstrual cycle they undergo physical and emotional changes because of which they don't have that much strength and concentration to perform their regular daily activities. So they were allowed to take rest.
Overtime this changed from "Women are allowed to take rest" to "Women are forbidden to come out".
4. Sati: Now this is the most misinterpreted and a classic example of following a tradition blindly without knowing anything about it. Sadly (believe it or not but) it is still being carried out in some areas in India. Sati is the act of a woman Immolating herself on the pyre of her dead husband. Here, there is no scientific reason for this.
Remember the three wives of dasharatha and Kunthi devi from Mahabratha. They were all widows through out the Epic right!
It is said to have started earlier way before 7th or 8th century during the invasions of muslim rulers from outside India, wherein the noble women preferred burning on the pyre along with their husbands rather than undergo humiliation, torture and disrespect at the hands of the invaders should their husbands die at the war. But slowly this turned into a custom of forcefully burning a women on the pyre of her husband. Fortunately we are in good times, but sadly the instances still exist.
5. Throwing currency coins into a river: This I guess everyone knows but still to reckon, it is believed to bring good luck when you throw your currency coins into a river. And the real story is from the ancient times when we used to have copper coins as currency till the Britishers invasion.
Based on the health benefits of intake of copper with water our ancestors made it a habit of putting copper coins in water when ever they come across rivers or lakes. Now there no point in throwing stainless steel currency coins into water.
6. Act of putting water around the plate while eating: Now a days this is followed in many of the south Indian houses especially brahmins. In ancient days where we didn't have tile or marble flooring but a mud floor, people used to put water around the plate while eating and also made it a habit to keep a small quantity of food outside the plate.
Water acts as a very good insect repellent. Earlier when we used to have mud floor this was done to make sure no insect or any other germs enter our plate while eating. Also if any they will get deviated towards the food that we kept outside the plate.
Similar to this there is another thing which says us not to eat in darkness. The reason being there was no electricity then and people used to have their dinner before it becomes too dark making sure we see what we are eating.
7. Wearing bindi on forehead:
It is said that the area between the two eyebrows on the forehead is the seat of concealed wisdom. And that the red kumkum placed on it retains the energy levels of human body and controls the level of concentration.
In olden days men also used to wear tilak. Even now a days some people wear. Widows wear holy ash. Married women are supposed to wear red bindi
It has an acupressure reason which says that pressing the spot between the eyebrows stimulates brain nerves and improve concentration. So our ancestors made it a custom for everyone to wear bindi and the colors different for unmarried, married women and a widow.
8. Tying mango leaves to the doors on festivals: It is said that the mango leaves tied in bunches are said to absorb negative energy from anyone entering the room. The mango leaves are tied to the doors not only during festivals but also on any auspicious occasions where usually a large crowd of our relatives and friends gather at our house.
Mango leaves even when taken off from tree last longer than others; so the photosynthesis action is performed for longer time. This helps in absorbing more carbondioxide and circulating fresh oxygen which in turn controls the temperature levels in the room and keep the room cooler. So this definitely helps when there's a gathering of people in a house.
9. Women applying turmeric paste to their feet: As said earlier in the olden days there used to be mud floors which were supposed to be soaked in water at regular intervals. And the then women used to stay mostly on this wet floor while cleaning the house with water, washing clothes, cleaning, cooking, cleaning utensils, bringing water from the river...
We all know that turmeric is a good antiseptic agent. So the women were advised to apply turmeric paste to their feet in order to avoid the ill effects of fungus and bacterial infections for continuously stepping/ staying on the wet mud floor.
10. Madi while cooking: This practice is still followed in some of the orthodox families of south India. It is the act of purifying physical body before cooking or performing any religious activity. And the most important thing is that they don't touch anything or anyone after they clean themselves until the task is finished.
There is no big secret or hidden reason for this act. It is just to purify ones body before cooking or doing any religious act. It is always advisable to clean oneself before cooking in order to avoid any germs or bacteria enter into the food.
But in recent times this custom is being misinterpreted. While those in madi are not supposed to touch anyone the others not in madi are being treated as untouchables.
11. Ornaments worn by women: Have you ever observed that all the ornaments worn below the waist part are usually made of silver and all above are made of gold. So before proceeding further lets be clarified on this.
We have this belief that gold is equivalent to Goddess Lakshmi. So out of respect we don't wear it on feet or lower part of the body. Where actually,
The metal silver being a good conductor absorbs energy from the polar energies of the earth and passes to the body thus refreshing whole body system. While metal gold dissipates it thus improving blood circulation, heart function...
Toe rings: Toe rings or metti are one of the "Solah Singaar" of a married Indian woman worn on the finger next to the toe on each foot.
It is said that the nerves related to the reproductive system of a woman run through these fingers. So on wearing these toe rings the constant friction created on these fingers while walking or doing all sort of chores during the day revitalizes the productivity organs and helps for pregnancy.
Ear steads: As per Human Anatomy it is said that, the nerve connecting brain, cervical and kidney passes through a human's right ear and if the pressure there could be controlled, then the kidney functioning can be just maintained and protected from damages.
So the continuous friction caused at the ear tips keeps the renal and bowel problems in control.
Anklets: These are usually made of silver and it was believed that wearing these one's energy will not be wasted and re-vibrated back into one's own body.
Thali or Mangalsutra: This is mostly made of gold and an identifiable mark for a married women. This too is believed to regularize a woman's blood circulation and blood pressure levels to a maximum extent, as Indian women tend to work hard, more than her male counterpart. The most important thing to note about this is that it should always be hidden or covered in the inner garments. Just because of the constant friction of the metal gold touching the body portion directly, the effect will be more to gain the said benefits.
So for now this is it. I'll come up with more if I find anything later.
