7Ly SESN f | = Y ~ –€

‘ –²à “Y?•0 –p eae € -

| VY / a \oat x =
= –p “• rie
4 •à ’ cv ; LSS
\ - He oS “•

HINDU
CUSTOMS,
RITUALS
ANDRITES
1–s 01 1119 ~

aA –@ –id
evalom
–yd
~idols? : –Âél
Whyis • (OM) sosignificant?–€
NACH akCUE17171... Rolie lala
Whydowomenapplyvermilliontothepartingsre) itheirhair?
_Whyis Tilakappliedontheforehead?
; –@ Why
Whyispourwater totheSun?
Mangalsutra Important? †
Why keep fasts?
Why is Ganga water sacred?
–Bð
||, 8–`
le)Pind-dana?

Why do groom and bride go around the fire?»

Why Ganesha idols are consigned Ke)=<
Why Hanumana is applied with red Vermillion? ~
Why Moon-worship on Karva-Chauth night?
Why are Tulsiand Peepal reverable? _ |
Whyare there 108 beads ina string?
Why bells are rung in temples?
Why Mundan is done?
Why Kapaal Kriya?
 WHY?

A unique book that reveals the sound logic behind

Hindu customs and religious rites plus rituals.

DO YOU KNOW?

How important the directions are for various

(1
1141
religious rites?
Why deity idols are taken rounds of?
Why idols are worshiped?
Why on Mahashivaratri Lord Shiva 13
worshiped at night?
Why a mantra 15chanted repeatedly?
Why on Navaratra a virgin girl is worshiped?
Why on Ekadashi rice eating is avoided?
Why Kumbha festival is held at four centres
only?
Why on Chaturthi moon shouldn’t be looked
at?
Why meals should not be taken during eclipse
period?
Why marriages between the members of the
same Gotras (clans) are forbidden?
Why tenth day after the death of a person is
marked for special observation?
Why -Mahalaya phase is not suitable for
auspicious works.

|READ
AND
KNOW
ALL
ABOUT
IT|
 WHY?

‘Why’ is the root of curiosity

Out of it grows the tree of sciences and
knowledges.
‘Why’ is the bridge between a teacher and
his pupil.
It’s pupil’s tentacle to touch his guru.
‘Why’ is infinite and limitless like God.
It is the hook to catch on
to avoid drowning in the sea of doubts.
Without ‘Why’ the wisdom will die.
Perhaps, that is why the creator has laid
out ‘?’ in the space in the form of
Saptarishi constellation.
‘Why’ is the spirit of progress,
‘Why’ is the mother of knowledge,
And ‘Why’ is the neon sign that shimmers
in the darkness of ignorance.
The very secret of the success is
Why? Why?? Why???
 Why?
The answer to all the Questions
regarding Hindu customs and bliefs

Author
Pt. Kisanlal Sharma

English Version
Igen B.

Manoj Publications
©All Rights Reserved

Publishers

Manoj Publications
761, Main Road, Burari, Delhi-110084
Ph: 27611116, 27611349, Fax: 27611546
Mobile : 9868112194
E-mail : info@manojpublications.com
Website : www. manojpublications.com

Showroom:
Manoj Publications
1583-84, Dariba Kalan, Chandni Chowk, Delhi-6
Ph. : 23262174, 23268216, Mobile : 9818753569

Under the Indian Copyright Act, all rights of the contents

and photographs of this book are reserved with M/s. Manoj
Publications, 761, Main Road, Burari, Delhi-84. Therefore,
no part of this book including the name, title, design, inside
matter or photographs be reproduced or copied in any form
or by any means, in full or in part, in any language. Breach
of this condition is liable to legal action and fine.
Alldisputes subject to Delhi Jurisdiction.

ISBN : 978-81-8133-993-5

FifthEdition: 2008 _ =
Maharani Emporium
1417, Gerrard St. (East)
Toronto Ont. M4L 127
@ (416) 466-4486

al Maya Oftse
Jhilmil Industrial Area, Delhi-110095

WHY: Pt. Kisanlal Sharma

 THE INTRODUCTORY PREFACE
Shastra (or scriptures), the very word brings to our
mind the three concepts. The first concept is about
Dharma, the religious duty. The second is knowledge
and the third is social code. The Shastra is the amalgam
of all three having the Dharma as the basic ingredient.
Dharma Shastras are the codified sum total of the
wisdom and knowledge culled from the analytical and
thinking brains of great sages and scholars of the era of
pure nature before the evolution of the culture of the
synthetic improvisation. It was the first attempt to
explore the truth. So, Dharma Shastra is science, the
original scientific endeavour. It also defines the rulers
and the ruled besides ordering social codes of conduct.
Dharma Shastra thus, 15 also a constitution.
A constitution and the penal code, although 15in
elaborate written form yet it requires experts and
lawyers to interpret various clauses, provisos and
stipulations for the practical application of the laws.
And the judge is expected to hear the interpretations
and give verdict using his own impartial conclusions.
Similarly Dharma Shastra 16605 scholars and
appointed professionals to interpret its provisions. The
laws undergo constant changes through amendments to
remain in tune with the ever changing situations and
conditions. Dharma Shastra faces the same challenge.
So, it also justifies and accepts newer interpretations of
its sutras (clauses) to meet the demands of
contemporary political and social realities.
 The changes in Shastra in itself is a law or a
definite process. Systematic criss-cross patterns of
threads weave a cloth. Similarly Shastra is woven by
threads of constant, variable and period values of
mankind. The constants are there eternally in set
pattern. They don’t change. But the variable and period
values go on changing according to the situation. In
Shastra format yajnas, charity, penance, karma,
learning etc. are constant values. But the form and the
process of their applications are subject to changes.
In ancient times for learning a student was required
to go and live with the teacher. In middle ages schools,
universities and hostels came up. In modern age the
learning is carried through primary, middle, high,
college and post graduate education systems. Similar is
the case with yajna, charity, penance, karma etc. As
constant values they are eternal. Only the process can
change. Sometimes changes are accommodated by
expansion or extension of the meaning of sutras, for
example, the extended meaning to yajna given by Lord
Krishna in Gita allows us to take even the modern act
of dieting also as a yajna because here a person through
that act is burning the possibility of unwanted fat in the
fire of dietary austerity. But often the constant values
have been shifted to serve the cause of some vested
interest. It led to the bastardisation of Shastra giving
birth to corrupt sects.
The shallow knowledge of Shastra resulted in the
people individually or collectively committing
excesses in yajna, karma, sacrifice, spiritualism etc. for
selfish motives. So, to fight such corrupt tendencies
sages have taken birth from time to time. To cleanse the
society they preached corrective values and their
thoughts evolved into new religions that attracted good
numbers of followers because of their reformist values.
But over the period of time they degenerated because
they were not built upon the foundations of the
constant values.
Those new messiahs took their followers into the
shining path that actually led to a dark tunnel of
confusions. Consequently the society paid the price.
Some of the intelligent followers realised the mistake
but there was no way for them to redeem the situation.
Dharma Shastra has introduced several customs and
traditions inadvertently that proved harmful in the long
run. Some who knew it could not summon courage or
found support to change them. Social reformers blindly
attack those customs and traditions hurting in the
process the constant values, faith and the very
elemental noble principles. They do more damage than
good.
Thus, for a long time man has suffered the
materialistic. and selfish systems. So, as advised in
Gita, it is time for introspection. The introspection
reveals the distortions created by induction of wrong
traditions and social evils in the variable or period
values overlapping the fundamental and universal
constant principles. It is essential to understand the
forms of constant and variable values.
For example, a man and a woman tie the knot in
traditional ceremony ordered by the Shastra to
empower the marriage institution for the creation of a
civilised society. It is an essential constant value.
Regional marriage customs represent variable values.
When these customs are logical, pious, good
iNtentioned and noble then both the values are in
harmony and the Shastra so created works in the
benefit of the society. Today our society needs the
creations of an honest Shastras which retain the basic
elements of faith and sublime constant values in such a
way that it fits into the parameters of the laws of
physical science and the modern realities. Such a
Shastra should lead to the composite progress of the
human society.
The ignorance of constant and variable values
result in erroneous distortions and degenerations.
These distortions carried through by generations
become traditions which in turn earn the respect of
being tested values solemnised by time. That makes
them look like authentic parts of the Shastra and the
society suffers from irreparable damages. Such a
corrupted society degenerates in thought and deed.
The distorted customs and traditions eat into the
vitals of the social values like viruses which can only
be destroyed by the modern education used as
antibiotic. Such customs carried forward by blind faith
when reach the untenable limits then we think of
putting them to scientific test. But in doing so social
science, psychology and para-science must also be
taken into consideration and given due weightage. The
intelligentsia and logical minded religious scholars are
trying to correct the distortions in the religion with the
help of all the scientific testing grounds. In such a back
ground is this analysis and the conclusions based.
 Shastra is not taken here in the narrow religious
sense but it encompasses wider social implications,
civilisation, mass traditions, customs and_ general
practices. Because a Shastra is shaped by various
processes at different times. A person’s habit or style
might be copied by the members of his family and it can
evolve as a family trait. The same trait when accepted
as a fashion by others becomes a custom of that group.
Its wider acceptance makes it a social tradition.
When the tradition is recognised by the
intelligentsia, thinkers and the paragons of the society
as a trade mark it becomes one of the features of that
civilisation. These features change according to social,
cultural and topographic environments. Especially
time wise when a period provides distinct standard of
living. When social science, psychology and para-
science are 11 agreement with the tradition it becomes
a religious custom. When the custom 1spositive for the
culture and religious traditions it automatically
becomes a religious order. These orders when pass the
test of the scientific logic they become standard
yardsticks. Such yardsticks are compiled as sutras to
become Dharma Shastra.
The close study of the process of the evolution of
Shastras reveal that the constant values do not change.
Only the variable and period values keep undergoing
changes. In such a scenario Shastras can only be
created by determining the constants and the variables.
Keeping the variable values in view the Shastra
creators keep a lot of provisions, exceptions and
conditions appended to sutras. For example, a woman
in her period can’t do any religious work but on eclipse
day she can do worship after a bath. In illness or love
sickness the bath is forbidden. Just as amendments are
drawn when an Act is passed to deal with the new
situations, similarly when a Shastra rule is followed
the sub-rules that have to be kept in mind.
One must follow Shastras only after studying
rules, sub-rules, exceptions, conditions and provisions
to get full benefits in this world and the other. Without
the provisions for penance and reliefs the entire
Shastras would become a misconduct. The society
would be crushed between dogmatism and the guilt of
misconduct. So, the reliefs of the penance and
provisions provided by the Shastras must be
judiciously used and the benefits reaped.
But indiscriminate provisions, exceptions and
conditions weaken the foundations of Shastras.
Many a time the penances and the reliefs are not
granted by Shastras but are introduced by unholy
elements for vested interests. It creates very unsavoury
situations and brings a bad name to the religion.
Suppose a Shastra prescribes a penance or a worship or
fast for a sin and the interpreter adds to it some
provision of his own to derive material benefit for
himself then the Shastra looks like a fraud and the
thinking people begin 1011216it.
Sanatana Hindu Dharma is not only about Karma
theory but it preaches spiritualism and four pronged
endeavours namely Dharma, Artha, Kama, and
Moksha. That is why the creation of Dharma according
to periods underwent period evolutions. At the times of
changes in the culture and the society human character
also evolved elements of the development. But due to
several reasons this evolution got narrowed down to
Karma of valueless kind. Karma degenerated into the
end game from being the means for sublime goals.
Karma is manual input for purification of mind.
The people forgot it. The thinking that life was for
Karma distorted Karma into the means of ego
boosting. It proved a road block in the path of spiritual
development. Whenever such degeneration led to the
stage where society seemed lost in purposelessness and
on the verge of disintegration some saint arrived on the
scene to redeem the mankind and save the situation.
Gyaneshwara, Tukaram, Ramdas, Kabeer and Guru
Nanak are the stellar examples. The degeneration got a
check. The people realised that Karma was meant for
the purification of the mind. The relevant changes were
introduced into Shastra accordingly.
Infact we can not ignore the psychological impacts
of thoughts on individual and collective levels. Often
there is a great chasm between the individual and social
mindsets which can only be filled with pious religious
conduct. Pious thoughts give shape to the desired
mindset. It begins to understand the good and the bad
elements of life and beyond. So, Shastras set separate
rules for different types of mindsets. Several fasts are
prescribed for the collective keeping in the fashion of a
public ceremony.
Example : During Satyanarain Katha the process
of Katha recitation, prayer, mantra chant, offering,
distribution of prasadam and then, mass feast creates a
very pious atmosphere. Individual pooja or prayer fails
to create that atmosphere and feeling. That’s why
Shastras give as much importance to pious talk, unity
and mutual respect during pooja as to the fruits of the
collective pooja. Some sects give utmost importance to
mass prayers and the members of those sects consider
it their prime religious duty to participate. On Friday
Muslims offer Namaz collectively in mosques.
Christians pray together in Churches at Sunday Mass
as their religious duty. But Hindu’s don’t get together at
temples for mass prayers. Only a few casual members
sit at aartis.
Religious conduct makes the mind strong and the
morale gets boosted. A religious person faces the
adversities courageously. His nature is channelled
towards goodness and noble deeds. Failure is not the
lot of the strictly religious in true sense. And the
success does not go to his head, Hence, his life is free
of tensions, mental disorders, sensory pressures and
evil ideas. A firm believer in God although can not
prevent a mishap yet he does save his mind from the
adverse affects of that mishap.
While discussing Dharma Shastras what troubles
our mind is the ‘fear factor’. Its presence in the
religious conduct is no good sign. The fear of gods and
goddesses dishing out hellish punishments to the
defaulters makes the devotion spurious, harmful
precedents are set, the religious conduct becomes
obscene and it is beset with conspiracies of the vested
interests. The true devotion is born out of love and
faith. There is no place for fear. Minor gods and
goddesses are merely fragments of Power Supreme
God. A fearless religious conduct is pious, peaceful
and soul satisfying. The fear breeds negative factors
which can only harm individuals and societies. Today
several such fear generated traditions and customs are
ravaging our social and spiritual fabric.
And at worship places the increasing numbers of
gods and goddesses are creating management
problems. It is leading to the erosion of devotion and
faith. Still following the guideline of Shastras limiting
their numbers 1s not being considered upon. No one is
caring or daring to because of the ignorance about the
proper ‘idol ‘consignments into waters’ process. The
common man is afraid of consigning the worship idols
which results in physical inconvenience and
psychological traumas. These fears are further fanned
by orthodox priests who are short on religious
knowledge. If any thing wrong happens these priests
have several explanations to fool the ignorant clients.
In following Shastras ordered religious conduct
the biggest hurdle, is society’s cynicism born out of
ignorance. There is a harmful tendency of hanging on
to the cyncial beliefs even after learning about the
truth. For example Shastras order a special menu for
shraddha meals. But if those menu items are consumed
on any other day it is not taken to be a shraddha day. If
this belief persisted with an air of ignorance is spread
and it continues to blow. The rites connected to death,
last rites and shraddha appear in distorted form. Even
a Brahmin going along with an urn meant for yajna
creates a scare and the people run away. They think the
Brahmin is going to perform shraddha for a dead
person. While going to market for buying water pitcher
people often wear cap or turban on the head, apply
kumkum on the forehead or take something in their
hands to advertise or reassure themselves that the
pitcher is not meant for the last rites.
There are several other misconceived ideas
practised as customs like serving salt in thali, not
accepting vada, potato or kokum chutney, not touching
the pitcher etc. It is not clear when such wrong ideas
become customs. The religious scholars don’t offer any
clarification. But they forget that Gita says ‘Thus
Shastras is proof itself’. When the baseless and
ignorance borne concepts, contrary to Shastras try to
become a part of the society then its culture and the
grace get eroded.
In religious conducts the induction of ignorant
customs is caused by the changes taken place in past
while following the rules of Shastras.
Example : Shastra forbids auspicious acts like
marriage in the family for one year after the death of a
parent. Because the departed soul remains in the ghost
state for that period and the members of the family are
not in the right frame of mind due to death. But the
practice of marriage performed in the family during
that period has become.a reality which is not healthy.
To-justify the act some elders float the misconceived
idea on their own that if the marriage is not held within
one year then next three years also don’t allow
marriages. Thus many marriageable young people
either suffer premature marriages or no marriage.
For religious conducts ordered by Shastras face
hurdles at social level and more hurdles at individual
and family levels. It is influenced by the incidents of
the past. If during any ceremony someone dies or some
mishap occurs that incident is clubbed with that
ceremony as its consequence or a side effect.
Example : Suppose some one of a family dies on
Gudi Padwa day. That family would shun away for
Gudi Padwa from that year. Similarly on any
auspicious occasion or celebration someone dying will
result in the concerned people or family setting their
own rule in terms ‘We don’t observe this occasion in
our family.’ The people refuse to believe in the fact that
it was merely a coincidence. Such illogical concepts
affect the pilgrimages, yajnas and other orders.
This habit spawns a wide range of illogical minor
customs articulated in words ‘In our family married
women deliver babies only in their parental homes’, or
“We don’t touch iron on Wednesdays’, or “Our tradition
is not to go to Tirupati and Kashi,’ or ‘We don’t cook
Khichri in family kitchen,’ or ‘We do not prepare
Anarsa,’ or ‘In our celebrations shehnai and nagara’
are not played,’ etc. etc. It is clear that in those clans
something unpleasant took place while doing some
thing connected to the referred things or places. Even
scholars fail to erase such misconceived beliefs or
traditions as the concerned parties stubbornly turn a
deaf ear to reason. The women folk rise up in arms to
defend those silly customs. And such customs make the
society a butt of jokes. Such sub-customs can only be
eliminated through strict enforcements of Shastra rules
at religious level.
 The demand of the hour is the religious conduct as
ordered by Shastras. When Dharma becomes synonym
of blind faith and blindly following it becomes a false
show and an act of arrogance. The reformers claim to
be Sanatanis. But the root meaning of the Sanatana
carries an element of arrogance. Only the eternal and
the most ancient are related to Santana. The
showmanship and the arrogance are peripheral. How
can they be eternal? The real Sanatana thought process
is the need of the hour. If Sanatana life style and the
culture is adopted it can lead to composite
development of the mankind.
What really the Shastra does not teach needs to be
chaffed out. To determine the real message of Shastras
the scholars have written from time to time. In this
effort the books ‘Nirnaya Sindhu’ by Kamlakar Bhatta
and ‘Dharma Sindhu’ by Kashinath Shastri Upadhaya
are really significant. Besides these Swami
Vivekananda, Brahmosam}, Aryasamaj and Theosophy
Movement too have made considerable contributions.
Since independence, apart from scientific research
psychology and social sciences are also making good
progress. Restructuring of aDharma Shastra based on
combined material of above works is challenging task.
Yet several scholars are working in this direction; in
this scenario even common folk are studying the
Shastra. Our rationalisation of several customs and
traditions should help you reappraise our cultural
values, conduct and codes using your own common
sense and the intelligence.
OO
WHY—1
 CONTENTS

Chapter-!
DAILY CONDUCT (ANHIK) –p

Wert ET UP IN BRAGIP MUAURTAM (‘P tessancdssatevasedaneeters

28

0 Lee PO) DALEY ROW CIN oo acorns acdstseensleewsecc

roetobvoneesbnetitoeees
28

Merry RECITATION IN THE MORNING? –if 30

yr OOK AT PALMS IN THE MORN? co.cc. siccavatsisceceenssscdeecuedssanwes

32

WHY THE PROVISION OF AUSPICIOUS SIGHTING? ..............0000000 32

WHY SYMBOLIC ae Aa | Resa aeBy ereR a ee ea EROeet RN 33

WHY YELLOW ROBES FOR RELIGIOUS CONDUCTS? ...................... 34

WHY GOLD-SILVER WARE FOR RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS? ................ 35

WHY GO AROUND DEITY IDOLS? 0 2 ’@ 37

01111111 11 38

01111110 ^ 110 1111 etsistaiieetanenntapseddesegaunerse

sienteariesso:
39

WHY SPECIAL MATS FOR RITES? 40

WHY KEEP SHIKHA (SKULL-TOP HAIR LOCK)? .........:c:.cseecernesesoenees
41

WHY WEAR JANEOO (SACRED THREAD)? ...sssssssssseeeeesesssetttennennse 43

WHY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS FOR DIFFERENT RITES? «0.0. 45

THE DIRECTIONS=GOOD 2 ee 47

WHY DRINK WATER IN SMALL MEASURES? .......s0ssssssesssseestecceneee 48

WHY PRANAYAMA2 425,528 5. age pte See SN acd eae 50

WHAT IS SANKALPA?.....,. cc eae muna gig a ies ae 51

RELIGIOUS SANKALPATYPES +0. ae ey 53

WHY CHANT ON STRINGED BEADS? ^ ge ee 53

10893111 ’‰?

EXCEPTIONS ..sessbyepe gchigycarne reoeerac, see i eet eae 56

WHY CHANT ON MALA? ~ ce ape 56

WHY EVENING •ù0 “™>“ð pia gees 58

SANDHYA NORMS isis: dulce cts eons cee eae ee 59

WHY PROVISION OF –sCCCC@ 59

WHY INVOKE ‘SWAHA’ DURING YAJNA •™0“‰>... 61

WHY WORSHIP: VANTRA? <4 Aon.) sete 62

WHY ‘SHRIYANTRA TS THE GREATES 11 62

Peet YEE PISIEENCE (MAUINEV
RATA)? 6... 0.0Socdocabonccia-msgewricccooes
63

Ber y BELTSARE RUNGIN TEMPLES?occsccocsscdaiecatssoosarsscdeca

65

HRSA 08 OGCora 0sca erlaw A 67

11 I | ds oa ee 69

Pete NOT READIN LYINGPOSITION?ooices easeds 70

hg 11111111 “sk

Pytiy ONIONAND'GARLDIC
ARENO‘GOOD?5 af:

11011 vic.cncnstsevosastcospceergucovss
IS

10 1.10 COINici coerceceeet etscist bcordb

ianaratince
ved–yn.

11111 ee me 76

1 91410 aRnealee terseRene ey ene ee et eee 76

Chapter-II
DAILY-PLEDGED MEDITATION AND WORSHIP 78

WHAT SHASTRAS RULE ON YAJNA AND POOJA? 1

111 11 2aye
cent titecntsatested
vse
vmneeh
aca
cuihian
apeeiAaves
sedecensuboaer
83

WHY DO IDOL WORSHIP, SYMBOLIC WORSHIP, ABSTRACT

WORSHIP-AND SPIRITUAL WORSHIP? sa: ccccncaantasarcsosescnndndedenses
84

WEY 4 BHISHERKAM(CANOINTMENT)?sccolecscstennsscrsesescrzecrasnenoneso
85
ANOINTING:
PROCESSia.cccseecsuesasseseecgsrcionoledacwenua
ienuenimsersudeess
sine
ssmapauenen
86

WHY FLOWERS ARE OFFERED TO 0001... 87

WHY 09144111 1.–òãIg1 89

WHY SOUND CONCH SHELE? ac ’@ ~ ~ 90

WHY MOVE ANTECLOCK WISE? 91

WHY GREET WITH FOLDED 10 conasauaceasspassnosareeneee eee “

WHY PANCHAMRITA? -ooccscarssseyteenenneeecaneceatene

ihe cnseetre a ere 94

WHY (1411111 sort adetees 2etsemua aa ee 95

WHY NAIVAIDYA (FOOD OFFERING) 3 oocce22ececee

neancesee eer ee 96

WHY CONSIGNIDOUS TO: WATERS 2 ccc corer ieee eee eee 96

WHAT IS:SPECIAL ABOUT SHIVA POOQUA? ieee 99

WHY SHIVA WORSHIP AT NIGHT? “P 100

WHY FAST AND JAGRANA ON MAHASHIVARATRI? ........00000000000000.-101

WHY SHOULD WOMEN RECITE VEDIC MANTRAS? 00 102

WHY ‘OM’ IS SO SIGNIFICANT? “P ‘Y5. 104

–B€9011 1/1 5 101

WHY WORSHIP –ãà ee 110

WHY PAY GURU DAKSHINA? ......00004: ^ 111

DSS YGIS1 SE 111

11111 114

WHY RELIGIOUS RITES AND CUSTOMS ARE DIFFERENT?......... 115

SHAD
ISRUDRARSHAP
’I? 116
AIS MEDITATION?
tai Ae ee 117

Chapter-III
PERIODIC FASTS-FESTIVALS 118

HOW DO WOMEN RETAIN SANITY? oceccccssssssessssssessvssssseessseevnees 120

7 1117 120

10 WORSHIP 81 0–rã` onl 122

“P 123

WHY CONSIGN GANAPATI IDOL TO WATERS? oc.sssssssccssssseesseeseeees124

SUH VeWISH UPON A, BANYAN? 5 ects cv feccscracoccarericermateacecnes 125

WHY VISHNU IN THE SEA OF MILK? cocsccsccccsssccsssseccnsssseesnsseeesee 126

WHY DOES LAXMI PRESS THE FEET OF VISHNU? ....sssssccsssseees 127

11111101 08 to ie eee ora A stadia 128

11111 129

WHY NOT VIEW MOON ON (4. 131

WHY AVOID EATING DURING ECLIPSE? ..ccsssssssssevsssssesssssenseee 132

0111111. crateseh Papsaniaduicaniseaeheameronacelnsdvtewiad

nt 133
WHY®1. 11.4111/8)
1111119 ~ 134
(–£SC@ 18 HOLY •P 7 135

Chapter-IV

TRADITIONS & CUSTOMS 37

WHY CASTE SYST BINS? cite eedeere orercntnateento1 139

WHY CO-GOTRA MARRIAGES ARE FORBIDDEN? ...........0...... 142

WHY TIE KNOT IN MARRIAGE? res eons on ee eee 142

WHY SEVEN. ROUNDS AROUND FIRE sy) csctpett. vee terete oesean core eee 143

WHY MARRIED WOMEN APPLY VERMILLION? .....0.......cscceseceseesens 144

WHY SHOULD A WIFE WEAR MANGALSUTRA? .u.cvcscssnoctes

catasansutees146

|, –ãg60.1–rãCBã“ 148

|, 17809114. 0.0 1111 2o.2ce-- tact cccu etcetera tee 148

WHY VANPRAS THEA? oo tice Sarcoe aged untae aan eee ee 149

Chapter-V
LAST RITES—SHRADDHA IMPIETY PERIODS 151

WHY-ELECTRICCREMATIONHS
ORAY?)cnet. ceee 2 eee 152

WHY.FLOURLAMP:FORTHEDEAD? ane eee 153

LAMPTRADITION
sesccscscoscee
’€ 154

WHATIS’p (617 154

WHYKAPAALKRIYA?
’€ 0410 155

MISCONCEPTIONS
wscasvaccreauiesweserieceaccaseaamdeusog:
seesane nae 156
MEX OBSERVE DASWAN (TENTH DAY)? isccscccsecosssecsncsstevinesiacson
156

WHYONEYEARMOURNINGPERIOD?oiiccccsccsscsscosivestessssvare
197

OVELY
SHRADDHAS
OF DEADONES?isecsccccccscssescessagscenGesceon
(6,

11114 11114 cic,Scscacsrdiswovectnon

snnhvudessivvtevus
fakes
158

011 1; 0)

i © REY EUW
MBCoat
8Oo 0 | an gee 160

0110 111 9 162

1111 1111001 111 (icdsnsouspcaviiin

sanssiseois
dediwanrasse:
162

11191111. 163

Wild4–³Bà CoLO,©ACG
1 11101 ere RN 164
WHYDEATHUNTOUCHABILITY?0 165

WHYWOMENIN PERTODSARE,JUN
TOUCHABL 3. 165

APPENDIX 167

NyEy 9VANereds COPPER

EDTO SUNPie cnsactul
snctectissseteedetesesecvasn
167

–s 11111112: 168

–³s 10911 na Aateoetth

an
cap
evSieaptoneesteehane
168

WELYSANT IDOL1 111 ncase

vasisnesdanestcnaontiens
169

WHY-REDVERMILLIONFOR:^ 02 1

WHY FIVE GREENPILLARSIN ’€ (1

(–³ã 1. arsesume
catnapacarcalep
eyacaaetulehens
172

WHY MOON WORSHIP ON KARVA (412... 173

 WHY?

The importance of faith and devotion in life can not

be denied especially in religious and spiritual
contexts. But in this spiritual journey curiosity is
also very important. Hence in Hindu Shastras
‘Why’ is discussed also with ‘What’ and ‘How’ in
detail. Among the above three dimensions of
curiosity ‘What’ and ‘How’ raise no doubts
amongst faithfuls. But ‘Why’ troubles them
because it smells of the doubt and the disbelief or
cynicism. Other religions too have put strictures on
‘Why ’—whereas Hindu religion philosophises it in
several ways and discusses it. Because the
satisfying explanation can change the very mindset
and the personality of the questioner.
 Chapter-I

DAILY CONDUCT (ANHIK)

Hindu Shastras use the word ‘Anhik’ to mean

daily. A faithful’s day is made by daily conduct, study,
meditation, worship and prayers. Despite divergent
views on many subjects ‘Anhik’ enjoys almost an
unanimous acceptance of its definition. It covers all the
activities gone through the day from the waking up
moment to the time of going to sleep. The daily
conduct or Anhik has fortified the Hindu Dharma since
time immemorial. As a soldier through daily parade
25
regime adds to his strength and fitness, in the same way
daily conducts ruled by Shastras enhance the influence
of a personality. It is founded on Dharma and
psychological facts. ,
Regulated daily conduct becomes a part of body
and the mind. In the beginning it takes some efforts to
become accustomed to a routine. But once it becomes
habit one does not feel at home without doing it.
Shastra has drawn a table for daily conduct according
to time, place and limits in mathematical way. The
benefits of the daily conducts accrue in proportion to
the mathematical accuracy. In this respect scientific
principles are not overlooked by Shastras. It provides
valuable inputs to benefit the body scientifically and at
the same time it works towards psychological
upliftment of the mind. Anhik daily conduct 15worked
out keeping the above two vital factors in
consideration. One who adopts Anhik with discipline
suffers no addictions, diseases, mental disorders and
poverty. If they do come somehow he is not afraid of
them.
Anhik conduct provides adequate reliefs or
provisions according to the demands of the time, place
and situation accepting the inevitability of up and
down cycles of life. The commitment levels to the
Anhik 15prescribed as full in one’s own village, half in
foreign lands and only a quarter in lands of alien
language. The commitment is fully waived for the
times of calamities and emergencies. Similarly
complete commitment is prescribed for full health state
and half for light illness. No commitment is required
during Sutak (post birth or death week). Without such
26
relief the religious conduct would become a
punishment or just irrelevant.
Some people consider Anhik a useless and
unnecessary exercise which is not correct. The regular
observation and exercise of some Shastra rules should
not be a bother. A long stay at a big populated place is
generally aimed at for roots and various other reasons
of facilities. Even in metropolitan cities Anhik daily
conduct is possible and easy. Only thing required is
true faith in religion and interest in religious conducts.
From ancient code books of Manu and Yagyavalkya
era to modern ‘Nirnaya Sindhu’ and ‘Dharma Sindhu’
Anhik has been specially mentioned and approved.
Anhik and the conduct can not be separated. There
is conduct in Anhik and Anhik in conduct. The two are
so assimilated that they don’t have any independent
existence. Still the two are _ independently
conceptulalised, it will so appear. The reason is that
Anhik 15based on religious values and conduct is based
on physical scientific rules belonging to the fields of
the physics, biology, anatomy and health. Dharma
Sashtra made Anhik rules based on Daivat Shastra or
spiritual aspects. Code of conduct is based on scientific
laws. That is why most of the conducts ordered by
Hindu Dharma pass the scientific tests.
The remarkable thing is that analysis of the Hindu
codes of conducts were done more extensively in the
western countries like United States of America,
Germany, Russia and England. The Western world
knows how effective these codes are barring some
aberrations. The scholars reached at the conclusions

27
after very extensive research. The clauses had been
compiled in scriptures in classified and categorised
manner. Today several books are available that give
detailed information on these codes. Here we use some
of those informations in respect of Anhik conducts
related to anatomical and medical sciences in this
chapter.

WHY GET UP IN BRAHM MUHURTAM?

4 a.m. to 5.30 a.m. is called Brahm Muhurtam in

Hindu Shastras. This quiet and peaceful period is
exceptionally suitable for the study of Vedas or other
religious books, yoga exercises and meditation. Vedas
claim that such an early riser and user of the time for
above acts stays free of physical and mental disorders.
Such person has a shine on his physique.
Ayurveda considers that the air recharged by
positive energy of moon light and enriched with
oxygen given out by plants is a tonic for the health. A
real nectar. So, this period is called Amrit Bela literally
meaning nectar time. The air at this hour contains a
healthy mix of 41%Oxygen, 55% Nitrogen and a mere
4% carbon dioxide. With the sunrise human activities
start shattering the peace of the atmosphere and the
spiritual pursuits which requires concentration of mind
become impossible.

WHY STICK TO DAILY ROUTINE?

Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, fortnights,

months and years keep wheeling around us all the
while. If we do specific acts at specific hours it derives
28
the benefits related to punctuality and brings order to
life. We recognise its imperativeness by fixing business
hours, office hours, public dealing hours, visiting
hours and programme hours. Supernatural forces are
active at certain times only. Apparitions choose post-
mind night hour to manifest themselves. Only full
moon charges specific types of psychopaths to go on
their killing ritual.
Our sages realised that the time phases are
influenced by different para-powers and energies.
These powers or energies are symbolised by gods and
goddesses. -Anhik programmes the life to take
maximum benefits from the time phases.
Saying prayers or aarti at regular certain hours is
essential as that god or goddess power 15more sensitive
at that particular hour. And so is the case with other
religious or spiritual activities of life.
A man who has set his daily activities to time
routine does not have to consult his watch because his
body responds positively to the certain activity at
certain hour. After a time the body begins to trigger
those activities on its own. The set habit sends impulses
from major brain to minor brain at due hours to make
the routine activities mechanical reactions. Anhik
customs are not merely localised mechanical reactions.
It is spiritual exercise, which involves harmonisation
of body, soul and mind. Hence the impulses are not
confined to major brain to minor brain journey. The
impulses get transmitted to every cell of the body to
awaken them. The morning Anhik customs are for
contemplation, study, meditation, hearing of holy
words and recitation etc.
29
 Thus, Anhik follower’s entire body is woken up or
charged up which makes it more resistant to the
diseases. Irregular Anhik follower does get the benefit
partially. This regulation exercised in the morning
orders the activities of the rest of the day too to follow
in organised manner and in logical sequence to make
the day more productive and fruitful. It lays the
foundation of physical and spiritual progress and
SUCCESS.
WHY RECITATION IN THE MORNING?

Shastras order contemplative recitation in the

morning to stabilize the mind and set it in religious
direction. A name represents a character and its
achievements plus glory. The recitation consists of
references to the past great ones who glorified their
names with their noble deeds. These names inspire the
emulation of their endeavours. For the same reason the
children are advised to read biographies of great men.
Anhik custom does it by a brief reference as the deeds
of the referred ones are already known to Anhik
followers. The following are referral couplet as
prescribed by Shastras for recitation:
Punyashloko Nalo Raja Punyashloko Yudhishthira
Punyashloki Cha Vaidehi Punyashloko Janardhana.
I bring to my mind the holy names of King Nala,
Yudhisthra, Sita and Janardhana. 7
Ahalya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara, Mandodari and,
Panchakam Na_ Samaranityam Mahapataka
Nashanam.
30
 Ahilya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara, Mandodari—these
five names are sin cleansers.
Prahlada Narada, Parasharapundarik,
Vyasambrishashooka, Shaunaka Bhismadalyana,
Rukmangadarjunavashishta, Vibhishanadeen
punyanimana, Parambhagyawatanmami.
Prahlada, Narada, Parashara, Pundarika, Vyasa,
Ambrisha, Shuka, Shaunaka, Bhishma, Dalya,
Rukmangada, Arjuna, Vashishta and Vibhishana—I
pay obeisance to all these God faithfuls.
Dharmavivirdhyati Yudhishthira Keertanen.
Papam Pranashyati Vrikodara Keertanen,
Shatrurvinashyati Dhananjaya Keertanen,
Madri Suto Kathyatam No Bhavanti Roga.
Yudhishthira’s name inspires the growth of
Dharma, Bheema’s name cleanses sins, Arjuna’s name
is the destroyer of enemy, Sahdeva’s and Nakula’s
names keep the diseases away.
Ayodhya Mathuramaya Kashi Kanchi Avantika
Puridwaravati, Chaiva Sameta Moksha Dayika.
Ayodhya Mathura, Maya (Haridwar), Kashi,
Kanchi, Avantika and Dwaraka—these seven holy
places open the doors to Nirvana.
Manum Samarmayadi Gurum Prajanam
Bhagiratha Dheermuda grayathnam.
Bhoopom Harishchandramabhawamwacham.
Shriramchandra Raghuvanshasuryam.
The original guru of the mankind Manu, ever
endeavouring Bhagiratha, truthful Harishchandra
Raghuvansha star Ramchandra— I remember them.
31
 WHY LOOK AT PALMS IN THE MORN?

Mentally recite about couplets/quartets and bring

both palms together viewing them and recite—
‘Karagrey Vasate Laxmi, Karmadhye Saraswati,
Karamule Tu Govind, Prabhate Kardarshanam.
In the tipwards of the hand lives Laxmi, in the
centre resides Saraswati and at the bottom part the Lord
of the world.’ So, read the couplet while looking at
your hands.
Hand is the symbol of Karma, the deeds. To
accomplish a deed finance and knowledge is required.
Laxmi and Saraswati are goddesses of riches (Finance)
and wisdom (Knowledge) respectively. Lord Vishnu is
the provider of all. So, the doer of the deeds, hand
represents all the above deities symbolically. Having a
look at the hand is thus, visually getting linked up with
divine forces to seek inspiration for noble deeds.

WHY THE PROVISION OF AUSPICIOUS

SIGHTING?

The third prescribed act of Anhik is setting the eyes

on auspicious objects. The theory behind it is that good
begets good besides the psychological effects. Aman
who sees in the morning a pious person, graceful lady,
cow, fire or priest is motivated into doing good acts or
his spirit gets a lift. They put one in good mood to think
positively at least for the day.
Please remember that the cow is not the obsession
of Hindus only but it is the symbol of meekness and
simplicity also. The fire inspires one to get fired up to
meet the challenges of the day. On the contrary the
32 WHY—2
sight in the morning of an evil person, bad woman,
drunkard, naked one and sarcastic person puts one in
negative mood and the whole day is spoiled by that.

WHY SYMBOLIC BATH?

Daily bath is a must, so rule Shastra. But in times

of illness, being-abroad or unavailability of water
makes it impossible to take bath. The Shastras realised
this fact and prescribed symbolic or dry bath for such
situations. The symbolic bath is also suggested after
coming home from outside, before and after meals,
after hearing unpleasant talk, after mourning, after
wailing and after going through a foul mood.
Symbolic bath consists of washing only face, arms,
legs and gurgling. Don’t towel hands before eating. Let
them dry in air. Don’t touch anything else but food.
After eating out don’t wipe hands with hotel towel
which could be used by others. Use dryer.
There are four other kinds of symbolic baths
recognised—Upsnana, Mantra snana, Gayatri snana
and Tirth snana. Upsana is wiping the parts of the body
with wet cloth. Then clean dress is put on. Mantra
snana consists of reciting the ‘Apohishta’ mantra in
the prescribed manner. It is done in the evenings.
Sprinkling the body with Gayatri mantra invoked
water is called Gayatri snana. Tirth snana is applying
to a deity idol the paste of prescribed holy trees or
plants like tulsi, beal, durva, darbha etc |
Besides these rubbing ashes on the body is ‘Vayu
snana’. Sun bathing is ‘Saur snana’.-Beaming mind
into Lord Vishnu is ‘Vishnu snana’. During
33
Mansarovar pilgrimage one can do with symbolic
snana. But normal bath is required for fasting, pooja,
and Shraddha rites.
Shastras rule that lunch should not be taken
without bath. After taking meals no religious act
should be done within the prohibited period of time.
There are some more rules in respect of mantras in
relation to bath.

WHY YELLOW ROBES FOR RELIGIOUS

CONDUCTS?
A dress of special colour is prescribed for wearing
at religious ceremonies like Pooja, Yajna, Anhik and
Shraddha etc. Everyday dress was not found suitable
for such special occasions where an atmosphere of
sanctity was required to be created to mark a difference
from the social occasion.
The colour and dress code has scientific logic.
The colour is a definite input to such an effort. That
is why the priests of the different religions wear
prescribed dresses on religious occasions.
Then, colour has served as an identity mark of
various religions. Islam is represented by green colour,
Hinduism is by saffron and the Christianity has opted
for white. The flags. of the nations also carry
distinguishing colour patterns.
Although saffron is popular in Hindu religious
ranks yet Shastras prefer yellow colour for religious
ceremonies to separate them from the social festivals.
The colour, religious symbols, objects and smells of
dhoop-agarbati do combine to create a religious
34
setting and the air gradually begins to wear the feel of
piety befitting a solemn rite
Through what process the colour is decided upon~
is not known. But once it is prescribed by the religious
authorities the faithfuls accept it as order of Shastras.
Through tradition it gets sanctified by time to become
a tenet.
For the same psychological reason the black dress
represents justice, white dress medical services, olive
green is military and the blue is for law (Police).
We can only guess. In Hindu religion pooja is a
religious habit which involves offering of flowers. And
yellow flowers outnumber the flowers with other
colours. The flower effect could have played some
role. Hindu religion accepts heavenly bodies as gods.
And most heavenly bodies (Sun, Moon) look yellowish
from earth. It could be another reason
Shastras order clean clothes to be worn at the
occasion of religious ceremonies. The silk and woollen
dress is mentioned as the best suitable.
Thus, the yellow robes has the logical support of
psychology in case of Hindu rites.

WHY GOLD-SILVER WARE FOR

RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS?

Hindu Dharma Shastras lay extreme stress on

piety and purity. It also applies in the matter of metals
also and use of gold, silver, copper and bronze ware in
the religious rites is ordered.
According to Ayurvedic medicine science the gold
and silver have great medicinal values. It was gold and
35
silver bhasma_ widely used in preparing Ayurvedic
tonics and elixirs.
This fact is also accepted and proved by the
physical science. In space ventures pure metals are
required. The choice naturally falls on gold and silver
as metals of highest purity. In space crafts, satellites,
space stations, space landing vehicles a wide range of
components and the whole units are made of gold or
silver or both. (Platinum is also rated as pure metal).
For the same reason of purity the gold and silver
ware is so valued in kitchen and on the dining table.
Some surgical instruments are also made of silver
because it does not cause infection being a pure metal
of required hardness.
So are many other scientific instruments.
Copper and bronze metals have one exclusive
quality. Thick bottomed pots made of these metals lend
a special taste to food cooked in them which can not be
duplicated. They have this unique characteristic. And
we all know that copper goes into making of electric
wires being the best conductor of electricity.
Theologists believe that copper is good conductor also
of good vibes and positive currents of the very
supernatural kind.
But sour foods go very bad in copper and bronze
pots. Then, Shastras s don’t approve of sour and spicy
food which is considered evil generators. The copper
and bronze urns at a religious ceremony keep such evil
foods away because of this fact. The food brought in
them is quickly consumed.

36
 WHY GO AROUND DEITY IDOLS?

Religious scholars propound a theory that deity

idols radiate a divine aura which is intense around it
and becomes weaker as distance from the idol
increases. Going around the idol gives the devotee a
benefit of getting charged with that good energy. The
mode of rotation is prescribed as from idol’s right hand
towards the left hand from frontal position. That makes
it anti-clock wise rotation. The clockwise movement is
not preferred as it is claimed that the divine energy
particles and biological energy particles tend to come
on a collision course. So, it is not a healthy act and
spiritually unproductive or even destructive.
There is a very scientific explanation to rationalise
this act. Rotation is the fundamental motional law of
the universe. The rotation is the very basic act of
creation. Satellites rotate around planets. The planets
go around stars and in our case the sun. The sun along
with its planetary rotational set-up called solar system
goes around the centre of the Milky way galaxy. Our
Milky way galaxy rotates around the centre of the
universe. The very heart of the matter, atom is just
rotational arrangement of electron, proton and neutron
going around and around the nucleus. Thus, the going
around activity is the very fundamental act of universal
physical dynamics.
Hinduism sees the physical manifestation of God |
in all the heavenly bodies namely sun, moon, planets,
constellatios, stars and galaxies. Sun, Moon, Mars,
Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn are revered gods of
Hindu pantheon as Ravi, Som, Mangal, Budh,
37
Brihaspati, Shukra and Shani respectively. All the stars
represent various sages, angels, holy men and the other
great ones of the past.
So, a Hindu faithful duplicates the basic planetary
motion of rotation. Symbolically a devotee goes
around his worship deity just like a satellite goes
around a planet held on by gravitational forces. In this
case the force is his devotion to that particular deity.
In this process he pays obeisance to the cosmic law
of rotation.

WHY SIT ON GRASS MAT?

Shastras advise the use of grass mat (Kushasana)

for sitting upon while praying, worshiping, reading or
reciting holy books and meditating.
Kusha is a special kind of grass just about having
right size and toughness to make a sturdy mat. The
Purana myth is that once Lord Vishnu went into sea in
the incarnation of Wild Boar to slay the demon
Hiranyaksha. When he came out of the water he shook
his body to shake off water and some bristles fell on the
ground. Those bristles evolved into Kusha grass.
So, Kusha is considered sacred grass.
Some people even wear Kusha ring in the finger
for good luck or for protection from evil. The mat made
of dry Kusha is bad conductor which provides good
insulation to the sitter against the ground. It protects
the sitting person from losing body energy of heat or
current by earthing process. In India the people mostly
have to sit on earth. Even the home indoors have clay
floor for sitting or sleeping purposes.
38
 WHY TILAK ON FOREHEAD?

‘Kathopnishada’ explains about the mystery of

Tilak from the religious point of view. We can see a
vein prominently visible in the centre of the forehead
which is called ‘Sushumna’. It points downwards and
is believed to show ‘Moksha Marga’, the way to
Nirvana. The rest of the veins spread in all directions
but ‘Sushumna’ always points in downwards
directions. Covering the Sushumna bulge with tilak is
supposed to trigger an inner process which helps
spiritual exercise. Different sects put different kinds of
tilaks according to their own faith.
In Gita Lord Krishna explaining yoga advises the
yogi to concentrate his mind by focussing all thoughts
at the centre of the forehead. If you close your eyes and
concentrate your inner vision you will see a dot or an
oblong mark right in front of your forehead where Tilak
is applied. So, it has some implication to the
concentration of mind and thoughts which has not been
defined clearly so far.
There is body language science angle too to the
Tilak. It is noticed that whenever a superior person
conveys a grave matter or command to the subordinate
he fixes his gaze at a point on the forehead of the
person being spoken to. That point is where Tilak is
applied to. Thus, the 7i/ak spot is mental gravity centre.
When some one talks with his gaze fixed at that gravity
point the other person naturally becomes serious.
As Tilak is applied after solemn prayers or pooja it
becomes a mark of solemnity and a sense of piety gets
passed on to the person it is put on. He gets into a mood
39
in which he won’t like to engage in shallow acts. Tilak
is also a signal for others not to indulge in cheap talk or
say joker things to the person because he would be in
the serious frame of mind.
Some people smear the body or forehead with ash
before applying Tilak. The popular belief is that the
practice is beneficial for the body and has medicinal
value. But this claim appears to be stretched too far.
The medical science says that ash closes the body pores
affecting the skin breathing and blocks the sweating
process. The idea could be that by not allowing the skin
to sweat the 7ilak can be saved from being messed up.
But it is not advisable at all. At least your doctor won’t.
But Tilak has the scientific logic.

WHY SPECIAL MATS FOR RITES?

Shastras prescribe some special mats or spreads

for sitting during pooja meditation or praying. It was `
necessary because we traditionally sit on floor or
ground. Furniture has not been in fashion except
thrones for the kings.
The reason perhaps was the hot climate.
In cold countries floors and the grounds are ice
cold or frozen. It becomes necessary to put a distance
between the ground and the human bodies to preserve
the body heat. It is best done by the use of furniture
made of wood.
So, we sit on floors and several sitting positions we
evolved in the course of time. For the conduct of
religious exercises 111–én sitting positions—
Siddhasana, Padmasana and Sukhasana deserve
40
mention. The sitting position determines the direction
of the flow of mental and bio-energy waves. The item
you sit upon provides the base for it all and regulates
the possible loss of energy in action and reaction.
‘Brahmanda Purana’ reveals the characteristics of
asanas (the type of mats or any other seating item).
According to it bare ground is discomforting, wooden
asana is unfortunate, bamboo mat is very poor, stone
slab is sickening, grass mat is inglorious, leaf mat is
brain corrosive and fine cloth spread is non-spiritual.
But wood, China clay and Kusha grass are bad
conductors of electricity or current flow.
Ancient sages considered floor made of the mix of
clay and cow dung, Kusha mat, deer skin, tiger skin on
woollen piece of cloth as bad conductors but good for
the spiritual exercise. They provide insulation from
electric charges of earth. The sages gave top ratings to
the skins of deer, tiger and the lion.
As today the wild life is protected we must not
consider the use of tiger or lion skin. That practice is
history now. Although there is no harm in mentioning
that sages thought that the skin of black buck was pious
and insulator from static electricity charges. The skin
of the predators was considered to be insect repellant.
The conclusion is that Kusha mat or woollen piece
of cloth is best suited as they are bad conductors of
electricity and heat.

WHY KEEP SHIKHA

(SKULL-TOP HAIR LOCK)?
Shikha has been recognised as sub-symbol of
41
Hinduism and separate guide book has been provided
by the name ‘Shikha Shastra’. Manu has advised every
Hindu to keep Shikha with due ‘Churakarma ' 1116.The
Shastras orders that a calf-hoof size tuft of hair at the
skull top be allowed to grow into a long lock of hair. In
ancient times Brahmins used to have woman’s hair
long shikhas which they kept systematically knotted.
For quite some time the modern educated people
took it for a meaningless dogmatic symbol of blind
faith. But later some researches revealed that it had
some relation to anatomical science.
Human brain has two parts—left and right.
Ayurveda anatomical knowledge believes that from the
joint of the two brain halves from /da, Pingla and
Sushumna_ points, a nerve originates that goes
downwards alongside Sushumna vein. Spiritual
science claims that Sushumna nerve is the bio-wire that
is set alight when a person making penance gains
enlightenment, or a researcher hits upon the idea of a
new invention, or an explorer sights the land he sailed
out for. Shastras claim that Sushumna nerve starts from
the bottom of the body and terminates into
Brahmrandhra, the brain centre which deals with
knowledge, actions and desires. It is situated near
where modern science locates the ‘Pilian’ gland.
Hence, for the spiritualists that centre is the most
valuable and important spot of the human brain. It is
just below the skull top where shikha grows up on the
outside. Thus the idea was to protect the outside of that
sensitive centre inside.
After all the nature had arranged for the hair to

42
grow on the skull to provide a protective cushion to
safeguard the most precious part of human body inside,
the brain. During pre-Christ era in India the shaving off
of the head had become a custom when monk sects
spread fast. So, Shikha order was re-inforced to save at
least the most sensitive spot being shorn off the
protective cover.
And it should also be noted that in ancient India it
was a custom to sit under the trees to meditate, study
scriptures or to do penance of long periods. The head or
at least Brahmrandhra required to be protected from
the objects falling down from above. The objects could
be fruits, nutshells, dried seeds pods, broken branches
or things spilled off by the tree dwelling birds and
animals.
Some people believe that Shikha also served as an
bio-antenna that could receive vibes and waves related
to para-psychology. We know that the whiskers of cats
and tigers infact serve as very effective sensory organs.
Shikha was perhaps hoped to evolve a similar
capacity at spiritual level.

WHY WEAR JANEOO (SACRED THREAD)?

Janeoo or Yagyopawita 1s custom which bestows
on a priest caste boy the right to study the scriptures
and perform yajnas. It has a scientific background of
anatomy field. A nerve on the back runs down from the
right shoulder down to the waist. It transmits impulses.
This fine nerve acts like mimosa. When it is in
withdrawn form 2 person remains within himself in full
control of anger or passionate reactions.
43
 Perhaps, the sacred thread Janeoo is the outer
reminder of that nerve to inspire a person to stay in full
control of himself. Even in a Buddha statue of ancient
period at Sarnath reveals a fine line across its chest
which is believed to be the symbolic of Buddha having
worn the sacred thread although he was against all
pretencious acts of Brahmins. It also is considered a
symbol of good health.
Shastras order that while urinating or answering
nature’s call the sacred thread should be hung over the
right ear which is believed to have the special
connection of nervous kind with the genitals. The
thread is ordered to be taken off the right ear only after
finishing the act and cleaning up properly.
Myth also claims the right ear to be the home of
several deities because it pays greater attention to them
or their stories. The deities listed are Aditya, Vasu,
Rudra, Vayu, Agni, Dharma, Veda, Aap, Soma and
Surya.
The sacred thread being put over the right ear
while answering to nature’s call can have a practical
explanation as well. In ancient India the people had to
go out in the open to answer the nature’s call. A sense
of urgency is involved in this act. It is a very natural
function where an animal and a human are alike. The
thread over the ear could be the conscious reminder to
the person to hurry on with the unpleasant task as he is
unfit for any other dealing of human life being in
animal frame of mind. It could also be a signal to the
others that the person is not to be disturbed, accosted or
delayed as he is on nature’s call.

44
 WHY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS FOR
DIFFERENT RITES?

Shastras have determined that there are ten

directions namely, East, West, North, South, North-
East, North-West, South-East, South-West, above and
below. The sunrise determines the East side and the sun
set West side. The worship, meditation, study of holy
books, yoga etc. religious duties are prescribed to be
performed before noon facing the East, the direction of
the sunrise. The similar duties in the evening are
ordered to be done facing West, the direction the sun
has gone into.
The sun is the very source of life in the solar
system. In that sense the order is very sensible. The
light is where the sun is. Where it is not there is the
darkness, the symbol of evil and the sins.
Besides this, Shastras order West for charity and
deity installation. During Shraddha North for the priest
and South for the doer. North for self study, yoga and
penance. East for father in doing caste rites and the
reader while reciting Veda. While initiation East for the
pupil and North for the guru. In marriages West for
groom while performing Akashatoropana and East for
the bride.
Many such orders have been determined.
Now let us view it scientifically. The East and the
West are related to the sun and its energies. The North
and the South are the poles of the magnetic forces.
From the dawn to the noon easterly space is
charged the particles of the sunlight and the waves of
positive energies sweep through our bodies awaking
45
the knowledge centres and the dormant spiritual
conscience. Hence it is the perfect setting for the
devotional exercises.
According to Shastra the god of death ‘Yama’
resides in the southerly direction. So, the dead
ancestors can naturally be in the South in spirit. When
invoked they should naturally look Northwards where
their living descendents exist. That’s why a Shraddha
performer descendent is ordered to face South where
his departed elders should be, although it is merely a
hypothetic logic.
But why should ‘Yama’ be in the South? May be, it
is earthly truth. South has been called down-under side
due to its global positioning on the format of the solar
system and our concept of directions. The ‘down’ is a
pointer to the death. The old age is ‘Down-hill’
journey. We are ‘down’ when ill or defeated. Hence, it
is our own thinking which reasons that the down is
South which should be the end of the life. After the end,
where shall we find ourselves to be? Down South,
naturally.
It may not be the ultimate truth, but for us, the
earthlings it is a fact.
In the marriages the groom faces East because he
would need all the energies the sun would provide him.
In ordering the bride to face West the basic fact is being
acknowledged that a woman is the daughter of the
darkness. She would be bold in the darkness but during
sunlight she would be withdrawn coy and prudent.
Thus, Shastras order the directions considering the
several scientific logics regarding physiology and
psychology.
46
 THE DIRECTIONS—GOOD OR BAD?

Shastras in detail have defined the good and the

bad effects of the directions. Although the South is a
noble direction yet common folk dread it because it is
supposed to be the pointer to the death, the domain of
the god of death, Yama. Even the scholars got affected
and a euphamism for South was used as ‘Awachi’
which literally means ‘unmentionable’.
The serious consideration reveals that ‘Yama’ the
death is the most kind act that infact protects the very
life from being ravaged by the ever increasing numbers
of old and infirm, exploding population of humans and
animals, epidemics and diseases spreading endlessly
and all the creatures fighting for a living space turning
the earth into a virtual hell.
‘Yama’ literally means ‘Control’. So, he is the
original population control project the very formula of
healthy life, the sublime protector through regulation
of life. In yajnas ‘Yama’ is duly honoured with a
worship for the same reason.
In the local medicine system, the patient lies facing
southerly direction. As the treatment starts the
direction is changed to have him face north
symbolically hoping that the patient no more faces the
death. Although at the end eventually he would have to
face it nevertheless.
¬ Shastra does not approve of sleeping with feet
pointing towards the South. There is medicinal science
logic behind this theory. Every particle or the body of
universe is attracted or repelled by negative or positive

47
magnetism. Every body is attracted towards larger
body nearest. Each particle has its own speed and mode
of rotation. The earth is under the gravitational force of
Sun. The sun itself is subjected to gravitational pulls of
the other stars, constellations and galaxies. These pulls
effect the atoms of our bodies too. So do the atoms of
the food we eat. The magnetic attraction is also there
making parallel impact.
Sleeping with feet pointing northwards is helpful
since the magnetic effect is opposite. If the feet are
southwards repellant action begins and the body
suffers magnetic turmoil which affects the digestive
system adversely. It can also cause mental fatigue
triggering nightmares.

WHY DRINK WATER IN SMALL MEASURES?

Shastra advise the intake of water by ‘achmana’

which is taking water is small measures by merely hand
cupfuls. It has been proved medically that water taken
by spoonfuls is healthful and beneficial in comparison
to the water drunk by cupfuls, glassfuls or mugfuls in
one go.
Shastra rules ‘Tripbed Apo Gokarnavard Hastaun
Trirachameta’ which means ‘Take water in hand-cup
made in ‘Gokarna’ style.’ Gokarna style is pinning
down the folded pointer finger with the thumb and
keeping the rest of the three fingers opened out to make
them look like a cow-ear. In that fashion the palm can
hold only teaspoonful amount of water.
The raised part of the palm at the joint with the
48 WHY—3
wrist is called Brahmtirtha. If one puts his lips to this
part and drinks palmfuls of water three times it is called
‘Brahmtirtha achamana’. Spills the fourth palmful
into Thali by making it flow over the ‘Brahmtirtha’.
This process is called Achmana. It is mainly meant for
taking the water in small doses instead of gulpfuls.
And it should be kept in the mind that in the
ancient times people drank water by cup of their hand
in absence of glasses or bowls.
Shastra orders several religious rites to end or to
begin with achmana which is supposed to be full of the
divine blessing and health.
The scientific logic is that drinking small amounts
of water acts as a catalyst to change the saliva
production rate. Excess saliva produced helps in the
digestion of the food and melts down the hard parts of
the morsels. |
Shastra advise achmana after waking up, on
feeling hunger, after eating, sneezing, hiccuping telling
a lie and studying. In all the above cases the healthy
saliva production acts as a lubricant to the body
machine. Telling a lie produces guilt feeling which
upsets the rhythm of the body. Saliva in some way is
supposed to inspire the body to fall back into rhythm by
injecting the smoothness.
If achmana is not possible due to some reason
catching the left ear-lob by the right hand is prescribed
as the substitute action. The logic of it has not been
explained so far. May be, it is a way of seeking pardon
like the kids are made to do by the teacher when they
err. /
49
 WHY PRANAYAMA?

At the time of Yagyopawita Sanskaaram the priest

guru teaches Gayatri mantra and Pranayama to his
pupil. Like many other customs it too has gone out of
the lives of the people.
The priest just mentions about it but does not teach
the process. It is now merely a formality.
Pranayama is a very useful process that teaches
how to harmonise body and mind. It is very helpful
exercise in the development of spiritual aspect of life
for composite progress. The life subsists on three
ingredients—food, water and air in that order of
importance. Without air a person can’t survive beyond
a couple of minutes.
The air is inhaled into the lungs where the lungs
take in oxygen out of it and dissolve the same into the
blood. The air is inhaled through the nostrils where a
criss-cross web of hair filter it through. The layers of
spongy skin of lungs absorbs the oxygen. For efficient
service the lungs requires to be kept well exercised.
Regular pranayama exercise keeps the blood well
loaded with oxygen rich red cells which makes the
body capable of working harder, faster and longer.
Pranayama is done in three acts—Poorak
Kumbhaka and Rechaka.
Pooraka consists of filling the lunges with air as
full as possible through slow inhaling.
Kumbhaka. In this phase one has to hold the air in
lungs as long as possible without letting out any air.
Rechaka. It is exhaling of air slowly.
50
 The most vital part of pranayama is holding in the
air. Through exercise the holding-in-time is gradually
increased. Some yogis through years of practice reach
a stage where they can hold the air in for incredible
lengths of time. A person trained in pranayama can
remain submerged in water for abnormally long
periods without surfacing to breathe in.
Pranayama exercise also teaches one the
concentration of mind. Holding in air is such an
exercise that a person has to stop thinking of anything
else but keeping still in bottled up state. It is the other
way around as well. If you can’t control your mind you
can’t do pranayama. It demands your full physical and
mental efforts. When a person reaches a state where he
can hold in air mechanically in care of the minor brain
he can employ the mind to some noble thought. It will
be easy to beam the thoughts on subjects because over
the period the mind already has learnt to do that.
That is why Shastra advise the faithfuls to beam
into Lord Vishnu during Pooraka, into Lord Brahma
during Kumbhaka and into Shiva during Rechaka.
It is also believed that God allots us life measured
in number of breathings. So, through pranayama a man
can make his life last longer by prolonging the period
of each breathing.

WHAT IS SANKALPA?

Sankalpa is generally just a resolve. But a

Sankalpa made in the manner of a solemn pledge with
due Shastra ordered process becomes the real
Sankalpa which deserves to be begun with capital 9 `.
51
In spirit one’s honour is mortgaged. By fulfilling the
Sankalpa one redeems his honour.
A broken Sankalpa hangs in the neck of person’s
conscience like albatross. This whole Sankalpa
exercise is to add gravity to the resolve of a person. The
ceremony is needed to add seriousness to the act.
Western marriage are instable because they are not wed
through a solemn process while Indian marriage is put
through a series of solemn ceremonies to make the
union last for ever.
Resolve is needed for every act because it leads to
decision and then action. For religious acts an extra
solemnity should be there as it is the matter of faith
which should not be taken lightly.
Sankalpa involves place, time, creed, wish, the
deity in whose name the Sankalpa is to be made, duty,
nature of deed, time limit, the contributory sub deeds,
obeisance to Lord Ganesha and pious words which
means that lowly guttural words, expressions, double
ententers are consciously avoided.
Sankalpa is spelled out with rice grains held out in
one palm and with other hand water is offered three
times. The rice is the symbol of integrity of the resolve
and water symbolises the presence of the water-god,
Varuna who in case of the default takes away any credit
accruing for the partial compliance.
Shastra says—‘Anrite = Khasuvaikriyamane
Varuno Grihyati Apsuve Varnam’—Meaning if
Sankalpa is not true Varuna will take away the rewards.
The presence of the water, thus, is a must to solemnise
the pledge. But if somehow water is not possible to
52
have then one can hold in his hand a coconut or beetle
nut as an alternative. Tulsi or belpatra can also serve
the purpose. But it all will have the affects of dilution
of Sankalpa because on the very onset compromise has
been made which will cast a shadow on the coming
events related to it as a psychological fall out.

RELIGIOUS SANKALPA TYPES

There are four kinds of religious Sankalpas:

Nitya, Naimitik, Nishkam and Prasangik. In Anhik
custom Nitya Sankalpa is ordered in which Sankalpa
is repeated everyday. The other kinds of Sankalpas are
spelled out for rites that last for longer periods. The
resolves for this longer version is_ called
Mahasankalpa.
Nitya Sankalpa should be consummated by
reciting the words—‘Anen Sankalpokt Falwapte
Sankalpokt Sankarvya Paripoorteye cha’.
The other kind of Sankalpas have their own
processes and traditions.

WHY CHANT ON STRINGED BEADS?

It is tradition to chant mantras or sacred words a

certain number of times or certain duration of time. In
a meditative mood the entire attention is required to be
concentrated in the act of chanting. Keeping a count of
numbers is a problem. How to do it?
Measuring it on time frame is also tricky. One will
have to keep an eye on the watch or hour glass which
will be a distraction bad enough to spoil the piety or
solemnity of the exercise. And the most meditators
“~ 53
prefer to chant with their eyes closed to avoid visual
distractions and better concentration of mind.
The easiest solution was stringed beads (Mala) in
a specific number to have a handy version of abacus
which did not involve application of mind or visual
attention. The end bead of larger size (Master bead) -
conveyed that the count was complete.
As the stringed beads became an accessory of a
religious conduct its ingredients were declared holy
material, customs of its use were made and the legends
were created to sanctify it.
Customs : Mala (stringed beads) should be held
over central finger and the beads turned downwards
one by one with the thumb at every chant. The beabs
should not fall one over the other. Shastra rule that the
sound of one bead striking another would cancel the
chant. When the master bead arrives the mala should
be turned over. In no case turning process must
continue beyond it. Do six pranayamas as penance if
the master bead is jumped by mistake.
The mala should not fall on the ground. It should
be kept at some sacred place along side the holy books
when not in use preferably in a box of pure metal or
wood. No two person must use the same mala. No one
should lend or gift his mala to others.
Only a guru can gift mala to his disciple
considering it the integral part of the education. While
using mala it is advisable to cover the hand with a clean
cloth. This provision is perhaps to keep the beads out of
sight to prevent the mind from engaging itself
habitually in guessing the number of the remaining
beads to be turned over.
54
 WHY 108 BEADS IN A MALA?

The concept of string of beads was naturally

standardised by determining a specific number of
beads in a mala to make it religious abacus.
But why 108?
May be, the number was to be kept around most
calculation friendly 100. Does the extra 8 represent a
cover for omissions and commissions just like the
baker’s dozen? No one can answer for sure.
The scholars explain it by linking it to several
spiritual and religious permutations and combinations.
Theory 1. One stands for one God. Zero
symbolises God Unmanifest. 8 represents entire
creation through eight natures namely—Earth, Water,
Speed, Space, Air, Mind, Wisdom and Ego. In this way
108 makes one conscious of this world, deified God
and Power Supreme unmanifest.
Theory 2. A person breathes 21600 times in a 24
hour day. Out of the 24 hours 12 are spent in daily
chores. The rest 12 are devoted to the thoughts of God
as ruled by Shastras. Thus, only 10800 breaths are
spent in the real spiritual exercise.
But human life is too busy. One can’t spare so
much time for meditation as the practical facts of life
showed. So, the sages deleted last two zeroes from
10800 leaving only 108 for spiritual exercise.
Theory 3. One thought believes that the sun goes
through 21,6000 Kalas (some kind of phases) only half
of which, 108000 are positive phases. By omitting the
last three digits we are left with 108. According to this
55
thought 108 beads of a mala represent one phase each
of the sun.
Theory 4. The astrologers connect ‘108’ figure to
their own concepts. There are 12 birth signs and 9 solar
planets (as ruled by Shastras). Thus, 108 is arrived at
by multiplying the two figures. They think that it is the
sum total of the fate of the world.
Theory 5. Astronomy sages have a different
belief. The Indian sages charted out 27 constellations.
Each of them goes through 4 phases in a year. Here 108
in the result of 27x4 which they consider a heavenly
figure.
Thus, over the period of a long time all these
beliefs became spiritual legends and the figure of ‘108’
became a holy number and saints began to write ‘108’
before their names as symbol of figurative holiness.
Exceptions : There is a provision for 27 and 54
beaded malas for daily chant and also for 25, 50, and
100 beaded ones. But these are very rare and rarely
seen.

WHY CHANT ON MALA?

Chanting in an act of repetition. Now it is proved

scientifically that the repetition has a soothing effect on
the mind.
It is a changing world. All things are changing or
undergoing constant changes all around us. Human
mind is basically orthodox. It recoils from the changes
and the change is the other name of the future.
The stunning effect created by the changes on the
mind is called ‘Future shock’. The people are ever
56
under the future shock as more and more changes are
taking place at ever increasing pace in every field of
life. Any repetitive act gives the mind a relief as it
symbolises stability, a no-change feeling. For the same
reason festivals and annual celebrations are the great
stabilizing factors which assure the mind of the
unchanged continuity. That is why the man clings to
traditional rituals and festivities as they provide him
periodic relief from the future shocks. The chant of a
mantra creates the same feeling of the stability and one
feels at peace.
The chant or jap are of four kinds—WMaikheri,
Upanshu, Pashyati and Para.
Usually one begins with Vaikhari which is
chanting a mantra loudly and clearly. Then, he tones
down in Upanshu which is just amumble. It dies down
into a mental chant of Pashayati stage where lips may
move but no sound is made. The last stage in Para
where the chant is perfectly a spiritual exercise. Even
the lips don’t move. The mantra is merely repeated
mentally without any physical manifestation yet his
entire body and the mind participate in the chanting
exercise. Even his breathing is saturated with mantra.
After the resolved period of chanting the mood and
the mind remain stable insulated from the future shock
for a period of time proportionate to the solemnity
invested in the chanting exercise.
Even the turning of beads is repetitive act and
hence soothing.
Shastra rule that 40,000 Vaikhari chants take one
to graduate into Upanshu level. 40,000 Upanshu
57
chants promote one to Pashyanti level. And then 40000
Pashyanti chants make one fit for the Para sublime
level of contemplative chants. The last level 15
guaranteed to be extremely blissful and full of piety.
Mala Traditions : There are a number of rituals
suggested for the keeping, purification and the
treatment of holy mala. There are also processes
detailed for the worship of mala.
WHY EVENING PRAYER?

Hindu Shastras lay great stress on evening payers

and meditations. It is an integral part of Anhik custom.
It is believed that prolonged evening prayer blesses one
with the proportionately long life.
Shastra has classified evening prayers into three
time slots. Pre-sunset, After sun-set and Evening.
The purpose of the evening prayer is to cleanse
one’s mind and body from the after-effects of the
mundane business of daily life. The dealings of the
day-long practical life makes one’s mind oriented to
materialism. And the day’s toil takes its toll on the mind
and the body causing extreme tiredness. The Hindu
philosophy does not want a man to extend his daily
business life to invade into the family and the spiritual
life.
The evening prayer with the family effectively
Separates a persons daily practical life and the family
life. It acts like a spiritual curtain on the material life.
The evening ritual brings the entire family
spiritually and emotionally together. A family
ambiance gets created where all the members can feel
the warmth of the love of the others.
58
 Shastra rule that a person who does not say
evening prayers is not fit for any big religious rite or
ceremony. It advises 1000 Gayatri Mantra chants as
penance for missing three or more prayers.

SANDHYA NORMS

Sandhya is elaborate prayer as prescribed by

Shastras. Sandhya = 128 14 = parts—Achmana,
Pranayama, Asana, Laghu Marjana, Mantrachmana,
Deergh Marjana, Adham Gharshana, Arodhyadana,
Japa, Upasthma, Dikpramana, Guru Vandana, Dev-
Brahmina Vandana and Dwirachmana. Out of the 14
Achmana, Pranayama, Ardhyadana Japa _ and
Dwirachmana are essentials.
Shastras advise to go through all the 14 parts with
due rituals. During the rituals Gayatri mantra is
chanted 108 times or 1000 or more times.
If the time is short a 5-part Sandhya can be done
consisting of the essentials.

WHY PROVISION OF PANCHAMAHAYAJNA?

Shastras rule Panchamahayajna to be a religious

man’s duty. It is a pentagonal yajna consisting of
Brahmyajna, Devayajna, Rishiyajna, Pitriyajna and
Manushyajna. Daily study of subjects of one’s own
line is Brahmayajna.
Then deity, guru and ancestors are invoked. The
offerings in their names is made to yajna fire.
The whole process is called ‘Vishwadev Tantra’.
First the fire is set in the pit after invoking fire god
with vedic mantra. After offering prayer to fire
sprinkle water around the fire. Rice grains are placed in
59
the eight directions. A small amount of cooked rice
treated with ghee is offered to fire. Fire is prayed to and
a little ash from the fire is retrieved to apply on
forehead. More offerings are made into the fire in the
name of deity, ancestors and living humans. In the end
a small amount of rice is placed outside the house.
Shastras consider that in making food violence is
committed which results in the death of a large number
of creatures of insect and germ kinds. Because it
involves burning fire, grinding, pounding, whipping,
procuring water, cutting, tearing, peeling, filtering or
sieving, chaffing, milling etc
Pentagonal yajna or Panchmahayajna is supposed
to cleanse one of the sin of causing collateral massacre
Shastra rules that a home where this yajna does not
take place the food grains therein remains unseasoned
religiously and are no good for preparing meals with
for holy purposes, guests, nobles and for offering to
departed ancestors.
This ritualistic exercise on the surface looks
pedogogic devoid of any logic. But a closer look
reveals that such ritualistic daily acts create a
mechanical mindset which could be helpful in dutiful
people although at the cost of the innovativeness and
the birth of new ideas. And it is a fact that burning rice
and ghee gives out an aroma that is very pleasing to the
Indian taste glands which the Westerners can’t
appreciate. For the same reason, in the Indian cooking
the dal is treated with the searing Tadka (condiments
fried in ghee in a metal ladle) which make everyone
feel good and hungry. The typical tadka sound makes
everyone conscious of the readying meals which acts
as an audio-appetizer. It is soul satisfying.
60
 Leaving food outside the home is an effort in
inviting the birds to help themselves to the sacred food.
The birds have a special place in Hindu philosophy.
They are like our souls and spirits that keep flying high
in the skies. The soul has been compared to a bird
trapped in the cage of the body. When the body dies,
the bird is liberated to soar up in to the sky and further
up towards the heavens.
So the birds become a part of the sacred rite.
Some people also believe that in yajnas process of
making offerings to fire and burning of incense
ingredients like raal and guggle purifies the air. It was
more true in the era when fumigants and air purifiers
and repellants were not there.

WHY INVOKE ‘SWAHA’ DURING YAJNA

OFFERING?

Purana belief is that when demons defeated gods

they destroyed the custom of yajnas as well. The gods
used to get reinforced through yajnas. Thus yajnas
were the acts that fuelled the god forces. Hence, the
yajnas are perceived to be the feeders and the charges
of the positive energies or forces represented by the
various gods invoked during yajnas.
In yajnas when offerings are made to the fire, the
mantras end with the invocation ‘Swaha’ which
literally means ‘ashes’. The offerings are wished to be
turned into ashes. There is one more important aspect
of this custom. ‘Swaha’ is the name of the wife of Fire
god. She is invoked because no major Hindu rite is
sanctified without the presence of the better half. Infact
Hindu philosophy considers ‘power’ itself to be
feminine gender.
61
 WHY WORSHIP YANTRA?

‘Yantra’ is a geometric figuration of a god or

goddess which represents his or her powers.
In worship Shastras rule that with god/goddess
idol, the related yantra should also be worshiped
accompanied by the recitation of prescribed mantra
according to tantra (specified process). The belief is.
that yantras carry the powers of the gods or goddesses
they represent. The reverence shown to and worship or
display of the yantra in itself is rewarding.
Is there scientific logic behind this?
There is. In the modern scientific age the yantra
practice is integral part of corporate sector activity. The
corporate house have their own yantras which they call
‘Logo’. Every big business house has its carefully
designed logo which plays a big part in its activities.
Infact, over period of time logo becomes the
symbol of the quality of its products or services. Logo
or emblem becomes a firm’s stamp which is cherished
and respected by ail its employees, shareholders and
the consumers.
Similarly yantra is logo or emblem of a god or the
goddess. It symbolises the power of the deity. The
worship of the yantra is as important as worship of the
related deity. |
A car carrying words ‘Mercedese Benz’ does not
convince you until it displays its Merc Yantra,@ the
symbol.
The same psychology works on religious level too.
That makes yantra an important figuration.
WHY SHRIYANTRA IS THE GREATEST?

‘SHRIYANTRA’,the swastika figure represents the

goddess of prosperity, Laxmi.
62
 Among yantras it enjoys the highest reverence.
The Puranic legend is that once Laxmi retreated to
Vaikuntha domain in heavens from the earth angered
over some matter. In her absence the earth suffered all
kinds of shortages, famines, droughts and
impoverishments. Vishnu and Sage Vashishta tried to
persuade her to return to earth but failed. She would not
listen.
Then, Guru Brihaspati devised the ‘Shriyantra’
figuration and advised its worship to attract Laxmi.
Goddess Laxmi returned to the earth and revealed,
“Shriyantra is my foundation. In it lives my soul. So, I
had to return.”
Shriyantra is a very popular and sacred symbol
with the trading class because they are always praying
for riches. The other common folk also rever it as the
sign of prosperity. The prosperity is the cause of
happiness, contentment, pleasures, luxuries, respect,
glory and fame. Hence, Shriyantra symbolises the
powers of other gods and goddesses as well. Hence, it
is considered to be the master yantra of them all, the
‘logo’ of well being.

WHY KEEP SILENCE (MAUN-VRATA)?

Dharma Shastra advises that during answering the
nature’s call, brushing teeth, cleaning nose or eyes,
wiping sweat, bleeding from wound, bathing, making
love, eating, food and performing shraddha one should
keep his mouth shut.
The most of them are daily customs.
The truth of the above advice has created as
universal maxim ‘Silence is gold’. In the course of the -
most of the above acts a person keeps quiet naturally as
in some of the acts the organs of speech are involved.
63
 Even otherwise keeping silence for a period as
daily exercise does a lot of good. It frees the mind to
contemplate on the serious matters of life and the
spiritual aspects. A habit of introspection gets
inculcated which can prove gainful in the practical life.
It should be remembered that garrulous and
talkative persons are not taken seriously. So, the people
of wisdom and serious nature open their mouths only
when required. That earns them a great respect.
Silence in a virtue especially in the grave matters
of religion and spiritualism. After all meditation is
merely a physical manifestation of silence.
Even those whose profession is to speak require
generous spells of quiet or maun-vrata to make their
speech more powerful and effective. Remember that an
active tongue has created many a war, spoiled many a
relationship, generated many a misunderstanding, bred
many a ill feeling, broken many a heart and hurt much
and many more than swords and guns have.
So, the tongue needs to be used sparingly. Shastras
have advised to select periods or days for maun-vrata.
The days prescribed are Ashtami (8th day), Ekadashi
(11th day), full moon day and Amavasya (No moon) in
a month. The people on their own can also fix hours or
days for their silence.
Silence in a way breaks one’s contact with the
material world. Thus, it contributes to one’s spiritual
growth and evolution. The sages get over a tricky
passage of time through observing the silence making
sure that the tongue does not aggravate the situation.
It works in the business and the politics also. There
the silence is expressed in two words—‘No Comment’.
It kills all the controversies.

64 WHY—4
 The Shastras advise observance of ‘maun’ if the
confrontations are becoming too vocal. The maun
allows time to heal the wounds. It subdues the rising
passions. It eliminates the differences. It adds balm to
the hurt feelings. It gives a purchase room for
reconciliation.
So, Shastras rule to make it a daily ritual or
periodic to strengthen the peace process which can
make the life and the world a happier and peaceful
GXEICISE,
Shastras say that silence is of two kinds—vocal
silence and mental silence. The first one is not speaking
anything. The second one is a hard exercise of putting
the thinking process of the mind in neutral gear. It is
emptying the mind of all thoughts which might be
difficult for ordinary persons. Yogis can do it.
Normally one can’t stop thinking of something. At best
one can concentrate his mind on a single thought. You
can give it a try.

WHY BELLS ARE RUNG IN TEMPLES?

The ringing of bells in temples or churches has

echo logic of science behind it. The bell sound has been
used for drawing attention from time immemorial. It is
a part of human evolution.
The cave man used to climb a high point and make
a full throated sound to attract the attention of other
humans. The sound would echo in the valleys. Such
full throated screams were used to exchange messages
or to warn others. The lions and other predators also
roar to announce their presence.
Thus echoing sound became a means of the calling
attention of others and it got imprinted on the evolving
human brain.
65
 When the metals came into the use in human lives
the need of calling the attention of others was still
there. The characteristic of metals of producing sharp
ringing voice got noticed. The sounds they produced
were far reaching. As brass and bronze were invented
their great sound creating qualities gave the man idea
to use then into making sounds gadgets. It led to the
birth of gongs, cymbals and then bells.
In the ancient times human life revolved around
religion as it was the only intellectual exercise then.
Calling the attention of the people to the prayers was
the first priority. For this purpose the bell was the
perfect gadget because one swing to the hanging bell
produced a series of echoing sounds of a distinctive
quality. Thus, bells became part of the temples. A
devotee could announce his arrival to the deity by
ringing the bell.
And thus, bell became an accessory of the religion.
Later Christians also adopted bells for the churches to
announce the celebrations. Small bells were made for
private prayers at homes.
This bell habit spread into the normal life of the
humans. The door bells came into the practice to
announce the arrival of a visitor. The telephones rang
like bells to signal the coming of a call. The alarm bells
warned people.
But the larger sizes and typical designs of the bells
of the temples continue to create a distinct sound which
feels loaded with religion and devotion. It has carved
, Out a very special spiritual wavelength for itself which
goes straight to the soul and awakens religious
sentiments which no other sound can.
In certain aspects human life is attuned to sounds.

66
The siren of a mill rules the hearts and the body of the
mill workers, Similarly the sound of a temple bell rules
the souls of the faithfuls and arouses their devotion.
The church bell has the same effect. The wedding
bells stir up-romantic feelings.

WHY CELIBACY?

Hindu Shastras lay a great stress on celibacy. It is

remaining unmarried with mind free of any sexual
considerations or physical relationship with the
opposite sex. The married people too can practice
celibacy for resolved duration by banishing all sexual
acts and thoughts. Some people mistakenly believe that
celibacy is staying away from women which means It is
a male preserve. It is not so.
The word used for the celibacy in the scriptures is
‘Brahmcharya’ which literally means ‘conduct like
God’. Obviously God here is conceived as something
asexual, having no gender. So, we can assume that
Brahmcharya applies to both sexes and it 1s a conduct
which is free of any gender activity. But everywhere
reference is always made to male gender.
The reason could be that in our society women
have been forced to be extremely passive who are not
receptive to take any initiative in the dealings of life.
That has been the practical reality. All the decision of
the life of awoman are taken my males in the forms of
the father, or brother or husband. So, the onus is on the
male. |
So, technically absence of sexual interaction
between the members of opposite sexes is celibacy or
Brahmcharya. Shahstras advise celibacy because sex
is too distracting and fills one’s mind with thoughts of
67
carnal pleasures leaving little room for noble thoughts,
religious pursuits and spiritual exercises.
And also it takes away a lot of time.
Practising celibacy has one more gain. One has to
put ina lot of effort in exercising control over mind and
senses. Over a period of time a celibate person gains
amazing control over his mind and he can focus it on
any subject. As a result he develops an excellent
memory. Due to celibacy Swami Vivekananda had a
memory sharp enough to memorise a 500 page book in
one hour only.
Shastras categorise celibacy of different kinds.
Not talking to a woman with sexual intent or interest is
‘Vocal celibacy’. And not thinking of women in sexual
context is ‘Mental celibacy’. As far as an unmarried
celibate is concerned he must not let his status be
marred or defiled by sexual intent by voice, thought or
sight.
There is also a provision for married persons to
qualify as celibate person. A married person if uses sex
only for procreation and not for physical pleasure or as
means of enjoyment he 1s married celibate.
During the religious rite or ceremonial custom the
person involved in that rite should avoid sex during
that period.
There is food and life style regimen also for a
celibate person. He or she should not take spicy food,
fried items, fast foods or non-vegetarian foods. They
are hot foods and the celibacy is a cool affair. A lot of
curd and water intake is advised. The hot foods
encourage pleasure seeking tendencies.
A celibate must wear coarse clothes. The silky and
lustrous dresses excite the body. For the same reason a

68
celibate must sleep on hard floor or wooden plank with
soft mattress. No smoke, drink and drugs are permitted.

WHY AVOID ALIEN FOOD?

Shastras disapprove of the food alien in the nature.

General interpretation is that the food cooked in the
kitchens of the other’s homes is alien food. But
orthodox clergy believes that any food cooked by
persons other than one’s own mother, wife or self
should be considered alien food.
But this extreme view is just not practical in
present day conditions. Even Shastra allows the food
as good that is offered by a guru to his pupil or the food
provided by a respectable elder who is like father. By
implication it can logically mean the wife of the guru
and the elderly women who are like one’s mother.
This restriction does not include food taken in
restaurants and hotels because one pays for it and that
makes it one’s own.
This religious order is framed in the belief that
food shapes one’s behaviour and outlook. Non-
vegetarian food makes one haughty, arrogant and
insensitive to the pain of others.
Vegetable foeds make one soft natured, religious
and compassionate. Acidic foods generate mood of
irritation. A man suffering of indigestion caused by
oily foods is in unpleasant state of mind and is difficult
to please. He stays in uncomfortable frame of mind. All
these factors affect a person’s life in a big way.
Shastras extend this affect to spiritual aspects also.
The food offered by other person could be fruits of the
money earned by the dishonest means. It could also be
a reward of some crime. The food of the corruption and

69
the crime can never nurture spiritualism. A corrupt
person’s son also takes route of the corruption. The
food earned by the corruption money infects the
consumer’s soul, conscience and mind. So, such food is
not religious because the religion is another name of
love, compassion, mercy, honesty and the truth.
The cooked foods bear the imprint of their means
employed in the procurement of the basic ingredients.
That imprint is vague on grains or fruits. Cut up fruit
has deeper imprint than whole fruit. Then, there is
question of the intent. The other person offering you
food can have some unspelt expectations in return. So,
why carry the guilt of being indebted to a person
feeding you? The alien food has several grey areas.
In and around a religious ceremony or the ordered
site the alien food should strictly be avoided to be on
the safe side. The religion is a sacred matter. One must
honour its sanctity by religiously following the ground
rules.

WHY NOT READ IN LYING POSITION?

Shastras forbid reading books in lying condition.

Obviously it ruled so because reading in that condition
meant that the reader was not respectful to the book and
was taking it without seriousness. In the ancient times
only reading material available were religious books
that we today call ‘mythological literature’. They were
all religious treatises and stories of gods.
Naturally one’s respect was expected to be shown
to those holy books. Those books demanded more
respect because they were hand written and thus were
fruits of some one’s dedicated labour. The books were
worshipable.

70
 Even modern science does not advise reading
books in lying position due to medical reasons. Many
students grow the habit of reading in bed because they
have to do a lot of study. Reading in the sitting position
for hours becomes tiresome. There are people who
enjoy light reading in bed especially the thrillers that
one likes to finish without putting it down.
But doctors say that such reading is not good for
eyes as the lying position puts more stress on the eyes.
Human species as homo erectus evolved a straight
back to be able to stand erect on his feet. He was
becoming an intelligent creature. There is a theory that
straighter the back more intelligent the creature will be.
The spinal cord is the home of ‘Medulla Oblongata’ the
secondary brain. It is in the most effective state when
the spine is straight. The bent spine is bad for any
intellectual exercise. The lying position on the side
tends to bend the spine.
The elders should consciously avoid reading in
lying position because children tend to copy them
naturally.
WHY IS FLESH EATING BAD?

Today drinking and flesh eating is becoming a

fashion and flesh cuisines are multiplying. Most of the
countries of the world can’t even imagine food without
flesh items. West is meat, chicken, pork and beef eater.
Most of the East is fish partial.
Between these zones India is the only land that
preached vegetarianism.
Hindu scriptures ruled that flesh eating and
drinking were sins. =.
Scientifically speaking a large number of
anthropologists hold the view that humans 21
71
naturally evolved for vegetable eating. The
carnivorous creatures have special set of teeth for
cutting, tearing and grinding flesh which is a tough
food. They include molars and pointed teeth like
canines have. But the humans have different kind of
teeth which are only fit for consuming vegetarian kind
of food where cutting and tearing is not required.
Then the digestive system of humans is capable of
processing only light vegetarian food. It can not digest
raw flesh.
So, what made cave man a meat eater? The answer
is simple, the discovery by man of fire. The flesh put in
fire turned into a cooked food, that suddenly became
tasty to eat, easily chewable and digestible. Thus, the
man became unnatural meat eater.
The fire solved all the technical problems the flesh
posed before man. In a way, we can say that the fire
animalised the man. This change over proved
disastrous. As man was equipped with the deadliest
weapon, brain. It turned into a butcher on two legs that
walked erect and he began the indiscriminate butchery
of creatures with tasty meat. Although it walked erect
its mind was becoming crooked because of eating the
unnatural food.
But Hindu land of Bharata refused to get
animalised. It steadfastly continued to preach the
vegetarianism. While the rest of the world used fire to
roast flesh Bharata used fire for yajna and other
Spiritual exercises.
The flesh eating changed the basic nature of man.
From a peaceful and compassionate creature man
became merciless and insensitive killer. While the rest
of the mankind produced butchers like Hennibals,
Atila the Huns, Genghis Khans, Alexanders and Hitlers
72
Bharata in the same period produced Buddha, Ashoka,
Guru Nanak and Mahatma Gandhi.
Flesh eating poses another danger. The flesh
providing animals pass on germs and viruses to the
consumers. A flesh eater is always exposed to diseases.
Man’s immune systems get affected and one becomes
prone to maladies. Meats produce blood cholesterol
which makes the flesh eater easy prey to heart diseases
and mental tensions. Meat foods induce the production
of extra acids to digest food which ravage lever,
intestines and gal bladder creating new health
problems. Meat products contain a high degree of bio
fats increasing the health hazards for man by several
multiple factors.
Lately genetic disorders and mutations are causing
horrendous epidemics in flesh providing species of
animals. We have seen the spectre of ‘Madcow disease’
and ‘Bird flue’ in poultry birds. All the nutrition
advantages of flesh eating get outweighed by the health
hazards and psychological damages it entails.
Killing animals cause unhygienic conditions. A
man who visits slaughter house gets so horrified that
most likelihood is that he won’t ever even touch meat
in the future.
It is heartening that vegetarianism is fast becoming
a fashion in the West. The modern man has finally
realised that there is a lot of sense in giving up flesh
eating for one’s own physical and the mental health.
Shastra was not wrong after all.

WHY ONION AND GARLIC ARE NO GOOD?

Shastra forbids the use of onions and garlic. It

suggests a fast as penance after eating them.
73
 It disapproves of all bulbous products that grow
under the ground as root vegetables. Among them
onion and garlic are single out for refrain. The Shastra
has even set refrain degrees for various edibles in
categories.. 20-25% fruits are refrainable, 30-35'%
among grains, 40-45% for vegetables, Onion and garlic
are 90% avoidable and fleshis 100% no-no.
In India different sects employ different
yardsticks. In Jainism onion and garlic are completely
forbidden. Other sects allow up to 80% of the
forbidden items.
Onion and garlic are acidic and gaseous. Eating
them produces an uneasy feeling. Eating them raw
loads the breath with unpleasant smell that can offend
the other people. Even love making can be a bad
experience if one of the partners had eaten onion or
garlic. One should not eat onion or garlic if one is
scheduled to hold discussion with other people or if
one is to interact closely with other people.
Most of the reputed firms have 51210112
instructions for their salesmen not to eat onion or garlic
in the breakfast or lunch on a working day because
their work involves dealing with people maintaining
the positive impression. No wonder that during
religious ceremonies and solemn rites eating or serving
onions or garlic is strictly forbidden by Shastras.
Medicine science says that eating onions during
rainy season creates stomach disorders. The onion
chewing thins the semen. But it admits that onion and
garlic do have medicinal values. Garlic is good for
heart. In fever onion paste is applied to the belly and
the forehead of the patient. It brings down fever. Onion
Juice 18given as medicine.
74
 But their use as food items is disfavoured.
Even the entry of onions and garlic in the kitchen
of a religious person is strictly prohibited.

WHY TOUCH BELLY AFTER EATING?

Shastra orders that after eating food the belly

should be caressed with following recitation :
Agastvam Kumbhakaranam Cha Shanim Cha
Vadavanatama,
Ahar Paripakama Smared Bheeman Cha
Panchakam. ,
The mantra invokes the powers of Agastya Rishi,
Kumbhakarna, Shani, Fire and Bheema for quick
digestion of the partaken food.
Caressing belly after eating 15a natural reaction to
express satisfaction of having eaten a hearty meal. It is
a way of thanking God for having provided the food.
In Christian custom ‘Thanks’ are said before the
dinner. The belly caress is after dinner thanks. It is also
the manifestation of the consciousness that the food
eaten has to be digested and the digestive powers of the
body are invoked to get into action. We don’t know if
this invocation really inspires the digestive juices to
flow in. The wish is there, no doubt.

WHY 100 PACES TO DIGESTION?

Shastra advise slow walk of 100 paces Shatpawli
after eating food. Ayurveda orders ‘Bhuktopavishta
Stholayam Shyanasya Rujastha, Ayushahakramanasya
Mrityurdhavitadhavitay. ’
Meaning : After eating sitting at a place causes
obesity. One who takes a slow walk lives longer. But
who runs or races he approaches death fast.
75
 Walking after eating is a custom in most of the
cultures. In the West people pace the floor or take a
slow walk in the lawn or the garden. Running or
walking fast unhealthily shakes the filled up stomach
which results in stomachache. Slow walk gently rocks
the stomach helping the digestive process.
WHY SLEEP ON THE LEFT SIDE?

After post meals shatpawii lying on bed on the left

side is also ordered by Shastras which is mentioned as
‘Vamkukshi’. About it the book says ‘Vampasharven
Somvishet’ which literally means—‘After taking meals
and Shatpawili lie down on your left side’. The duration
suggested for it is around one and a half hours.
The logic is lying on the left side helps in putting
pressure on the food eaten which is helpful to the food
pushing wave movements of the small intestine. The
right side does not create the desired pressure. Another
Shastra theory is that through left side nostril runs sun
nerve ‘Pingla’ which gets activated by lying on the left
side. Its activeness helps in the digestion. The right side
nostril contains moon nerve ‘/da’ which plays no part
in digestive process.
The theory is not yet testified.

WHY PROPRIETY?

What is proper or improper in the given situation?

This consideration is called ‘Shuchirbhaotata’ by the
Shastras.
While going on a journey the proper thing is to
take along dry food and water. While on the long and
difficult pilgrimage to Amarnath or Mansarovar one
should eat whatever comes by. There is no scope for
any hair splitting.
76
 On the occasions of marriage, religious
ceremonies and festive occasion don’t make your own
piety an issue. In such gatherings a lot of transgressions
naturally occur without malcontention.
So, one must be generous and accommodating.
Abhismriti Shastra rules that in the events of fire,
flood, earthquake, invasion, robbery, any other natural
calamity, yajna, travel and festivals one should not act
touch-shy. One other book says that any bad caused
during sleeping, sitting, riding, boating, carrying
burden or getting touched by undesirables may not be
minded.
The touch of air blows away the bad effect.
Whatever act is gone through in the process of
surgery 1S proper. Those who make an issue of
touchability in such grave situations are the real
untouchables. Such people are never happy or
satisfied. There is no cure of the sickness of the
untouchability infected mind.
The customs must not be followed with blind faith.
Medical science and psychology should not be lost
sight of. After answering the natural call the natural
reaction is to clean up. Do it in that spirit.
At coming home after a long day one feels like
taking a shower to freshen up. There is natural
propriety. One must not credit himself with having
done some religious duty. One did it as it felt proper.
Muslims perform Vaju (washing face, feet and arms)
five times day. It is clean and healthful exercise.
According to Shastra after eating and answering
nature’s call washing mouth 8 times and 4 times after
urinating are proper acts
OU

77
 Chapter-IT

DAILY-PLEDGED MEDITATION
AND WORSHIP

In practical life a person has to enact several deeds.

The deeds basically are of two kinds—worldly deeds
and spiritual deeds.
The worldly kind consists of farming, business or
services. The spiritual acts are Anhik rituals, worship,
fasting, upholding family traditions and religions rites.
The two kinds of deeds are not directly related. The
ones engaged in spiritual karma are of religious nature.
78
The spiritual karma is not different acts of worship,
prayer or meditation. The three are performed together
in the normal way. Although conceptually they are
different yet they are used for the same purpose and
meaning.
Just as cement, sand and water mixed in right
proportion when used methodically shapes a structure,
in the same way meditation, prayer and worship in
correct proportion work wonders. Pursuing any single
subject creates imbalance, ego and disenchantment
The worldly deeds are made meaningful by the
spiritual deeds. And spiritual deeds progress through
meditation, worship and prayer.
Meditation is sublime process of getting the body
perform deeds. In this respect Patanjali Rishi’s
‘Ashtang Yoga’ is a recognised guide. In it God is
merely symbolic. The faithful can keep any idol or item
infront of him as a God symbol. To teach various
aspects of yoga there are several organisations doing
good work in India. Sometimes the meditations don’t
fructify being limited to very special and specific
subjects. The guidance of an accomplished guru will
be very helpful in choosing the right type of
meditation. Some people make a choice of the difficult
type just to go through an experience.
It takes a lot of patience and testing mind.
For meditation and worship besides the proper
process true devotion is required. Not beaming the
mind into the worshiped god and just moving hands in
the worship patterns makes it a mechanical exercise.
Similarly to make prayer a meaningful exercise
meditation and worship should also be there. Besides
prayers if family rites, customs and fasts are
79
undertaken there is a chance of the breeding of ego.
The priest who talks about the powers of a deity but
does not reveal the right worship process they breed the
ego and devotee gets misled. He goes after the priest
instead of going into the fold of the deity. So, before
worshiping or praying to a deity the due process should
be learnt.
The worship method is different from the
meditation or prayer. The worship consists of proper
pooja, mind application, fast, the character recitation
etc. The chosen deity often stays out of the limits of the
mind. So, a seeker must first worship a saint or
mahatma before turning to the main deity, the
objective.
The main aim of the worship is to destroy the
materialistic mindset. It is done in two ways, the first is
to renounce the world and the relationships to go
through the ascetic route. It is difficult.
The second route is to gradually reduce the
attachments of the worldly kind. If the objective deity
is of the fierce kind then there is danger of family
getting destroyed before the family mindset. That is
why it is better to worship a saint or mahatma for the
gradual spiritual progression.
Even while the worship vested God is one yet for
birth, state and harmony the manifestation occurs in
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva forms. But in the world
system He manifests in pentagod form of Surya,
Ganesha, Devi, Shiva and Vishnu. |
Pentagod worship is good ’9? spiritual
progression.
Some people according to days and dates start
worships of 8-10 gods simultaneously. But true faith
80 WHY—5
shows him one god in all different images. A little
further he begins to see diversity in the unity of God.
Such progressions result in true devotion.
In daily Anhik worship accessories must be placed
on dry grass. Flowers arranged, incense sticks burnt
and sweets/fruits be put before the deity idol. Rangoli
should also be drawn and the worship properly
performed. After pooja all must sit together and take
prasadam.
During worship appropriate mantras must be
recited or prayer said. It creates a pious atmosphere
which spreads on to the neighbourhood.

WHAT SHASTRAS RULE ON YAJNA

AND POOJA?

Shastras order following items 25 essential

ingredients for yajnas and the worship of the deities:
Clothes, better half, sacred tree, seven 50113
(Saptamritika), seven grains (Saptadhanya), five
precious things (Panchratna), Madhupark (a honey
concoction), Sarvoshdhi (Herbal mix), Panchamrit
(Five nectars), Panchpallava (Five leaves) Navgraha
Samidha (Nine planet mix). The details are as under.
Q Vastra—Shastra orders some special clothing to
be worn at yajna and worship. Undergarments are
must. Single piece wrap-up clothing is not favoured.
Silk, woollen or cotton are preferable. The clothing
should not be unclean, borrowed or picked up.
0 Better half—tIn most Hindu rites husband must
be accompanied by wife. The order is for wife to sit on
the left side of her husband at the occasions of Yajna
Homa, Vrata, Dana, Snama, worship, pilgrimage or
marriage. The right side is ordered during receiving
81
blessings, coronation, getting honoured, convocation
paying obeisance, touching elder’s feet and on bed.
0 Ghritam (Ghee)—Ghee is 91 essential
ingredient of religious rites. ‘In case of the
unavailability of ghee cow milk or curd can be used as
the substitute. Buffalo or goat milk/curd are also
allowed.
0 Sacred trees—According to Shastras following
trees are sacred and yagya worthy—Shami, Palash,
Bargad, Aghada, Ashwath, Odumber, Bilva, Chandan,
Saral, Saal, Devdar and Khadir. Their paste or parts
are sacred.
0 Saptamritika—It is the soil from seven places.
The places from where little amounts as symbolic soils
must be gathered are Horse stable, Elephant shed,
Snakepit, the place where rivers meet, pond or lake,
Royal palace gate and cow shed. Mix of all these soils
is Saptamritika.
Q Saptdhanya—A collection of seven kinds of
food grains is Saptadhanya. It includes rice, wheat,
sesame, beans, gram, raal and sanwan.
0 Panchratna—For several of the _ rites
panchratna is required. It consists of gold, diamond
pearl, sapphire and quartz
0 Madhuparka—The mixture of one small spoon
of ghee, two small spoons of curd and one small spoon
of honey 1s madhuparka.
Q Sarvoshdhi—The mix of the powders of the
herbal plants of Koot, Jatamansi, Halkund, Avan
Haldi, Vekhhanda, Chafa, Chandana, Dagarphool
Nagarmotha and Kachur makes an aromatic
concoction that arouses pious feelings.

82
 Q Panchamrita—It is ordered for all kinds of
worships. The deities are believed to love this mixture
of milk, curd, honey and jaggery sugar.
Q Panchpallava—The leaves of five trees namely
Mango, Blackberry, Kaith, Bijaura and Bel are
considered five holy leaves. Sometimes and at some
places Banyan, Peepal, Oudumbar, Orange, Shami and
Ashmantak leaves are also used as panchapallava for
the worships.
0 Navgraha Samidha—Shastra rule that several
trees represent different planets of the solar system.
The woods of these nine trees are ground or pounded
into pulp and it becomes symbolic nine planet paste
that is Navgraha Samidha. The trees are Arka, Palash,
Khair, Apamarg, Peepal, Oudumbar, Shami, Dhurva
and Darbha. The wood pieces should be clean and
green. Not dry or moth-eaten.

WHY IDOL WORSHIP?

Why should one put faith in the moulded or

engraved or chiselled pieces of metal, wood or stone as
gods? They are merely lifeless objects.
There is sound logic behind it. God is Power
Supreme that is omnipresent throughout the universe.
Although God is an abstract force and unmanifest yet it
is present in everything, every creature, everywhere
and everytime. By that token he is present in idols also.
For that very reason an idol is not Godless. He is there
by the basic principle of his omnipresence.
For common folk it is not easy to beam their
thoughts and devotion on something abstract. An idol
as representative of God presents a point where
faithfuls can focus their devotion on keeping the
83
distractions out of their minds. The idol becomes a
spiritual focal point through which a faithful can lock
in to the abstract God.
A devotee’s devotion, faith, worship, reverence
and belief makes the deity idol Godful. Ahuman being
after all is asmall existence with every limited spiritual
and physical capacities. Power Supreme is an infinite
mind boggling amount which will never ever come
within the scope of any human’s imagination. God in
deity form is a small amount which a person can
satisfactorily deal with and give manifestation to his
faith in his humanly small way.
The deity idol should be treated, revered and
worshiped as ordered by Shastras to create a religious
custom for making the exercise systematic. A system
becomes tradition sanctified by time.

WHY DO IDOL WORSHIP, SYMBOLIC

WORSHIP, ABSTRACT WORSHIP AND
SPIRITUAL WORSHIP?
The beginner has to start with idol worship. One
can easily focus his devotion into the visible deity
which infact is merely a representative of the abstract
Power Supreme God. Over a period of time the
faithful’s mind becomes a little more educated
spiritually. He can visualise the presence of the deity
without even looking at it. Even when he is not sitting
before the idol he can see it through his mind’s eye. A
little more training takes him to level where he sees
God behind that worshiped deity.
Some more progress enables one to connect with
God spiritually. The deity image now gets transformed
into merely a window in the mind through which he can
see God, feel His force or energy flowing in.
84
 Similarly in the beginning one says the prayers or
mantras loudly. After some time it gets reduced to
merely a murmur. Then only lips move without making
any sound. A little move progression leads to a stage
where one repeats mantras or chants only mentally. A
stage comes where words are not needed. The mind
simply locks in to the deity. Then it serves as an adopter
further down with lead to God and the light of
enlightenment gets switched on. The final union with
Creator becomes just a matter of time.
Upto which level one reaches depends on one’s
quality of devotion and the spiritual capacity.
Shastras define these various levels as Murti
pooja, Parthiv pooja, Manas Pooja and Satviki Murti
Pooja.
Parthiv pooja is the worship of symbolics. Here
the deity is in symbolic form as Lingam is symbolic of
Lord Shiva. ‘Shriyantra’ is symbol of goddess Laxmi.
In this kind of worship the mind’s relating power is
prominent.

WHY ABHAISHEKAM (ANOINTMENT)?

Abhishekam is anointment of the idols with
liquids. Water, milk, juice and oil. With the recitation of
mantras the idols are applied with the above liquids.
Shastras explain that this process charges the idols
with divine energies to prove more blissful. There is
scientific angle to this. Such processes involve
physical activity. Abhishekam channellises all the
body activities and the mind in the act of the worship of
the deity. Thus a person becomes completely invests
himself into the worship.
It is like a man washing his car demonstrates his

85
involvement with it. A teenager does it by cleaning his
bike.
ANOINTING PROCESS

Shastra has set a custom for ointing the deities.

Use of ointing vessel is ordered. For ointing Shiva idol
cow horn, for Vishnu idol conch shell left grooved or
right grooved and for Ganesh copper vessel is
prescribed. The vessel should be held in left hand and
right hand used for pouring water in them.
For milk and oil brass, bronze or silver vessel is
ordered. Conch shell, horn or copper vessel should be
avoided in these two cases. For juice tin plated vessel is
ordered to be used.
Surya and Devi should be treated to water. Vishnu
and Ganesh is best ointed with milk. Shani is ordered to
be anointed with oil (Mustard) and Shiva with sugar
cane juice. The water ointment is acceptable to all
deities normally, provided the vessel used is as
prescribed for water.
Abhishekam can be done with Panchamrita as
well. Offer mango, banana, fruit juice or nuts to deity
after the anointment.
After ointing with non-water liquids the water
must be used in the end anyway to wash the idol clean.
Use cow horn or conch shell for pouring water. Spoon
is also allowed in the clean up anointing. The water
meant for ointing deities must be kept in the conch
Shell overnight. Such a conch shell must be duly
worshiped. As an alternative, wash the shell clean and
dry it up. Then fill it with water. Add some water from
pooja bowl (kept traditionally before the idol as normal
custom) to the shell water. Sprinkle this water over
86
yourself and pooja material for purification. This shell
water should be used for wetting the deity before
ointing with other liquids. Pour this water over deity at
the end for the clean up process.
Do not dip conch shell or horn in water. Pour water
into them from another vessel. In temples conch shell
pooja is prohibited in Shiva worship. If the idol looks
messed up heated conch shell water must be poured
over the deity for clean up. Wipe the idol dry and apply
scent on the face of the deity.
These rituals bring one closer to one’s deity
emotionally and reinforces the devotion.

WHY FLOWERS ARE OFFERED TO GOD?

God is the very epitome of beauty and the purest

purity. When a man sees around looking for the best
symbols of beauty, purity and freshness his eyes
naturally fixed on the flowers.
Nothing could match a flower in those sublime
qualities. He thought that God could be nothing but the
qualities of a flower raised to the power infinity. The
flowers were also related to the process of ongoing
creativity by being the symbols of the formation of the
seeds. God was also the cause of the creation. What
could be more better way of paying obeisance to God
than offering him the flowers, the humble earthly
symbols of His qualities?
The love was the most intimate and the greatest
natural experience humans could go through. The
people thought that love itself was God. Flowers
aroused the feeling of love and romance. Offering a
flower to the beloved as expression of love was very
87
natural act. From whichever angle we look a flower
leads to the thoughts of God.
Thus, flower became an ingredient in the very
conception of the divine ‘powers. Hindus
conceptualised Lord Vishnu reclining on _ the
Sheshnaga bed, a flower stalk sprouting out of his
navel at the tip of which was a lotus flower abloom on
which sat Lord Brahma, the creative power of Lord
God. Then various gods and the goddesses came be
associated with different flowers in the different ways
and the contexts.
The linking of the flowers to the divinity was a part
of the spiritual evolution of man very naturally.
Shastras also set rules for offering flowers to deities to
make flower link a religious tradition.
Shastras rule that flowers should be offered to
deities with stalks on and the stalk part must point
towards the flower offering devotee. The flowers
should not be crushed or in withering condition. There
also are rules forbidding certain flowers for specific
gods or goddesses to lend sanctity to the flower
offering custom by providing the ground for the
creation of legends through religious authority.
Shiva—tThe flowers of Kewra, Bakuli and Kund
are disapproved. In some regions Tulsi is also
prohibited. But Shiva symbol Shaligram ‘stone is
exception. 7ulsi leaves can be offered on Shaligram.
Ganesha—Do not offer Tulsi flowers to Ganesha
But on Ganesh Chaturthi day the white Tulsi flowers
can be offered
Pitra (Ancestors)—Use of red flower in Shraddha

88
(custom of religious offerings for dead ancestors) is not
allowed. |
Goddess Durga—Dhurva should 101 be
dedicated to Durga. But for Chandi Havana it is
essential. |
Vishnu—F or Vishnu worship leaves and climber
parts are not permitted. Flowers should be offered to
deities only till they are in the fresh state. Shastra has
determined periods for species of flowers they remain
fresh after the plucking. There also order about not
plucking leaves or flowers of different trees or plants
on the days listed by it.

WHY LOTUS IS IMPORTANT?

Many gods and goddesses are conceived to be

sitting on the lotus flowers in Hindu deity pantheon.
The closeness of our religion to the lotus is apparent.
Why lotus is so important to us?
To honour the beauty of god’s eyes or the pretty
feet lotus is chosen as simile. Awoman’s beauty and
tenderness 15compared with lotus.
Lotus has red colour. Red is holy and auspicious in
Hindu thought. Red vermillion, red geru, red bindi, red
saree at wedding, red tilak and several other signs
related with colour red is considered auspicious.
Lotus is a natural flower. It is not grafted or
cultivated or cultured like rose.
Lotus also is symbol of religious piety. Hindu
religion is based on the philosophies evolved by sages
and rishis. One of the most sacred custom of the sages
and the penance makers was to get up in Brahm
89
muhurtam (4.30 a.m.-5.30 a.m.) in the early morning
and go to the lake or the pond to take bath to purify one
self for other religious duties. The lotus grew
abundantly in lakes and ponds in ancient times. While
sages bathed they always found lotuses growing
around glowing with freshness having dew drops
trickling down. They were living symbols of freshness
and ever clean piety. That image got imprinted in the
minds of the sages and the lotus became most revered
flower in the Hindu religion.

WHY SOUND CONCH SHELL?

In Hindu custom conch shell is blown at occasions

of worship, yajna, birth, funerals or other rites or
ceremonies. It also was bugle of war during ancient
times and middle ages. There are different kinds of
shells available in the market.
During Mahabharata times all the warriors had
their own favourite shells with fancy names. Arjuna
had ‘Panchjanya’ conch shell to announce his intention
to battle. Other famous ones were ‘Anant Vijaya’,
‘Pondra’ ‘Sughosh’, ‘Mani Pushpak’ etc.
It sounds like a fog horn. A special effort is
required to blow conch shell. The blower is required to
concentrate his mind and blow a lungful of air with
measured force into the shell through his lips pressed to
it at a specific angle to make the booming sound. It
takes some practice. The distinct sound signifies birth
or death or start of a battle, or pooja or some other
religious rite about to begin. The sound is far reaching.
The booming sound sounds like long drawn ‘Om’,
90
the most revered chant of Hinduism symbolic of the
humming echo of big bang (Brahm) which the
scientists also agree that still hangs in the space as the
cosmic vibration.
The effort of blowing the conch shell puts entire
body systems in action mode to tackle the task about to
be begun. Some people also believe that the frequency
of its sound waves is right at a level which charges up
the brain centres related to spiritual and emotional
awakening. |
After blowing the conch shell it should be wiped
clean. It should be kept on a stool by the side of the
home temple. Put some flowers and 11/57leaves on it as
your mark of reverence.
Remember, that it is the shell of a dead sea
creature. In this fact lies the basic philosophy of the
Hindu thought that there is death in life and the death is
the beginning of another life which also ends in death.
And this cycle is our fate.

WHY MOVE ANTI-CLOCKWISE?

For going around a deity idol or a temple or other

worshiped objects Shastras prescribe anti-clockwise
move. Why?
There is symbolic psychological point. In anti-
clockwise move right side of the devotee remains on
the outer side. The weaker left side is exposed to the
deity or the temple. By this act devotee accepts the
superiority of the deity and symbolically surrenders to
the powers of the deity.
It is a natural habit. A creature exposes most
vulnerable part of its body to the one it 1s accepting
91
defeat to and is surrendering to. A dog exposes its
tender belly to the victor to announce its surrender. A
devotee adopts the same rule in anti-clockwise move.

WHY GREET WITH FOLDED HANDS?

The different cultures have different modes of

greeting. Hindu Shastras has prescribed three or four
prominent modes of greeting or seeking blessings.
Feet touching—tThe younger ones are advised to
greet the elders or guru or scholars by touching their
feet to show the respect.
Blessing—The elders or superior persons touch
the head of the bent down blessing seeker to pass on his
good wishes. They may even caress the back to make
the blessing more sincere.
Embrace—The people of equal status and counter
parts in family relationship embrace and hug each other
when the two meet.
Namaste—But the most popular mode of greeting
is ‘Namaste’ said as head gets slightly bent to show
humility. This greeting is valid for every situation and
between any two parties.
Some people of extra humility or to express extra
respect for the other person bend the head down
enough to touch the tips of the fingers of the folded
hands with the forehead.
Why did Shastras devise this mode of greeting?
The answer is revealed by body language science.
In ancient era when the languages were not fully
developed two persons used to raise both palms as a
sign of peace. Open palms revealed that the person was
92
holding no weapon and was seeking peace and
friendship.
Still the hands could do some damage on their own
even without weapon. So, Indian sages improved the
mode a bit more by introducing the custom of bringing
the palms together in folded hands state. This act
practically shut out any possibility of offensive use of
hands. And at the same time it became a posture of
greeting. It was not only a wish for peace but friendship
also. Bringing palms closer also conveyed the desire of
close relationship, as close as the palms. The scientists
have observed that those whose greeting is not sincere
happen to leave some gap between the palms. The ones
who greet with true sincerity press the palms together
leaving no gap. ‘Namaste’ literally means I bow (to
you). So, it is a very natural mode.
There is physical aspect to it as well. The folded.
hands give better balance to the body because it is
physically a defensive position.
Shashtangam—The Shastras prescribe
Shashtang pranama in case of paying obeisance to the
saints, holymen and the deities in temples or outside. In
this mode a devotee lies face down on floor or ground
with chest, knees and feet touching the ground or floor.
The hands are spread forward with palms touching the
floor. Then, the devotee reverently touches the floor
with his fore head.
This is total surrender posture according to body
language science. That is what the devotee is
wishing—total surrender to the deity. In some temples
the devotees are ordered to take off shirt and vest
93
leaving only the loin or Jangot on the body. This 15
done to convey the message that before the lord all are
equal. In that spirit the devotees are to come to face the
deity. The upper garments generally reveal the social or
economic status of a person.

WHY PANCHAMRITA?

After worship of the deity partaking of

Panchamrita (Mix of milk, curd, honey, ghee and
jaggery sugar) is considered the consummation act of
the whole process. The praying to deity in the temple
also ends in receiving Panchamrita from the priest.
The religious way to accept it is the hollow of palm
in ‘cow-ear’ position of hand. Index finger in folded
state 15kept lightly pressed down by the thumb and rest
of the three finger remain spread out pressed together
giving the hand a shape akin to a cow-ear.
Just a drop should be consumed as the larger
amount tends to induce production of saliva which is
considered no good in a religious act.
The number of times to take Panchamrita is also
ordered. After at home pooja take it twice. If you are on
fast for the day three is prescribed. But in public temple
only once is the order.
Panchamrita is ordered to be fed to a dying person
or a sick one. Some people sweep the palm over head
after taking liquid as holy amritam. Don’t do it in the
case of Panchamrita because it contains honey which
can mess up your hair.
Some mantras are also prescribed to be recited

94
 while accepting Panchamrita for those who want to be
elaborate.
This Panchamrita ritual has its own logic.
Although pooja is a spiritual exercise yet the body is
the practical participant in the process. A living person
can’t completely ignore his physical reality. The body
is physical reality and the fact of the matter is that it is
the foundation of all the spiritual activity. Without it
the soul loses its identity. The body must also gets its
share in the spiritual exercise. In this case Panchamrita
is the share of the body which can not be denied to it. It
tastes the devotion or faith in the form of Panchamrita
in the language of its sensory organs.

WHY PRASADAM?

After a religious act or ceremony distribution of

prasadam, 8 small token of the sweet of the edible kind
is also a custom. Prasadam partaking with devotion is
the consummation act of the religious ceremony,
pooja, katha or some rites. Through distribution of
prasadam a man tries to reach to the other in a spiritual
` way through a physical process.
The logic given in the case of Panchamrita applies
here also. Then it is the orientation of human mind.
After convocation address the degrees are distributed
as prasadam of the educational pooja to the deserving
only. After a tournament trophies and the cups are
given away. But the religious exercise is not
discriminative. Every one taking part in a religious
ceremony is spiritually a winner. So, everyone is
expected to get the prasadam.
95
 WHY NAIVAIDYA (FOOD OFFERING)?
‘Naivaidya’ is food offering to God (Deity, idol).
Deity worship time is usually early in the morning. In
most of the homes food is cooked early morning as men
have to go to work by sunrise. In such cases if the food
has been cooked the normal items like rice, dal or
vegetable food can be offered to the deity. If complete
menu is not ready then rice mixed with ghee and
jaggery sugar can be offered. It can be eaten by the
worshiper or better still it must be distributed to others.
During vrata pooja of pledged kind naivaidya is
called ‘Prasadam Naivaidya’. It should be distributed
amongst family members and other’s present. After
offering to deity some people cover the Naivaidya thali
which is not proper. It has been noticed that some
ignorant devotees paste offering into the mouth of deity
for better effect which is against the orders of Shastras.
If more than one deity has been installed at some
religious occasion it is not necessary to say prayers
separately. to different deities. Just acommon prayer to
all the deities will suffice. It 15 the spirit that matters.

WHY CONSIGN IDOLS TO WATERS?

Today the crowds of a large numbers of idols,

photographs and statues af gods and goddesses during
festivals have become a problem. The members of the
family bring home idols from pilgrimages along with
pictures and photographs. The idols arrive as gifts also.
The homes become virtual museums of god and
goddess idols and all of the idols have to be worshiped
as tradition. Each god has several idols.
96 WHY—6
 Many idols undergo a lot of wear and tear over the
period. Sometimes it becomes difficult to identify the
idols. But the people are afraid to dispose them off for
fear of the ire of the concerned deity. The problem gets
worse and worse as the time passes by. Meanwhile
more idol keep coming in every year and at every
festival or ceremony. The situation becomes desperate.
One begins to get fed up with all the crowding and
the cluttering of the space. Cynicism begins to set in.
The young generation folks don’t hide their resentment
and disenchantment with the idol worship business.
It is all due to the ignorance of the laws and the
orders set by Shastras. The need is to know the answers
contained in the directions of Shastras to all kinds of
problems. Once you know them the idol worship
becomes a fruitful exercise instead of problematic. In
respect of pooja the first order is that every home must
conduct everyday Panchayatan pooja. Some of the
families do conduct even today pooja _ of
Panchayatans—Vishnu, Shaligram, . Narmada
Ganapati Quartz—Surya, Suvarnamukhi Devi and
Shiva Banlinga. In the holy cities near temples the
shops sell Panchayatana gods. In this regard the order
is that pooja house should not be cluttered with idols,
images, pictures, photographs, or the coins of the same
deity.
In ancient times camera photographs were not
there. But today one can have photographs of famous
idols of gods and saints or the godmen. These
photographs are helpful for the concentration of mind
for a period of time. So the pooja place can have deity’s
97
or holy man’s photo. But beyond this the repetition of
the idols or photos or symbols of other gods should be
avoided or they will become countless. The
photographs and idols brought from the pilgrimages
should be used for albums or collections only. They
must not be installed in the pooja place with the deity
worshiped everyday.
The second order is regarding period an idol can be
kept for worship purpose according to the material it is
made of. The brass and the bronze idol is good for 21
years, silver idol for two generations or 40-45 years
and the gold idol is for four generations or 100 years.
These periods are determined according to the capacity
of the metal to tolerate ointing, chemical reactions,
wear and tear. Due to this factor alone the number of
the idols in the worship use will be reduced
considerably.
The third order is that unrecognisable idols or
broken, distorted or twisted ones should not be kept in
pooja place. The fourth order is that in pooja place
idols smaller than palm or bigger than palm are
undesirable. If we apply these rules the pooja room will
be automatically a less crowded place.
The homes where there are young people of
cynical non-believing atheist kind there is likelihood of
the deities being dishonoured in future. The better idea `
would be to consign the deities with honour to the
water. Sometime there are childless couples who are
not willing to adopt even then the question is what
becomes of the deities of their homes? They too should
be consigned to water instead of leaving them to the
98
fate of going unworshiped. Or the idols should be
given to a faithful and willing person.
Following the above orders the consigning of
surplus idols or pictures becomes religious duty. On
some auspicious day collect such unwanted idols and
pictures. Clean the metal idols with lemon peels and
ash. Oint them with Panchamrita. Offer rice-curd and
Naivaidya Prasadam.
Then recite ‘Yantu Devana Sarve Pujamedaya
Parthiveem, Isht Kama Prasidhyartha Purragamnaya
cha.’
Offer raw rice. Put the idol in a new cloth and keep
the bundle in a safe place for seven months. It will
allow you time enough to get over the bad feeling or
correct any mistake if there be.
The deity idols should be properly worshiped
everyday and anointed on special religious days as per
the ordered custom.

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT SHIVA POOJA?

There are various traditions and customs in

different sects in respect of Shiva worship. The
offerings of consumables, flowers, leaves, fruits and
water to Shiva are not partaken by devotees. But there
are some sects and individuals for whom Shiva is
whole God, not just one of the triumvirate.
They partake the offerings.
If Shvia symbol Shaligram rock is anointed with
funeral pyre ashes then the offering being unacceptable
are logical. But the counter point is that Shaligram rock
being Shiva should have the power of cleansing
99
everything coming into its contact of all aspects of evil
effects Shastra rules that offerings to Shiva are not
acceptable.
But Banlinga version of Shiva is exception.
The tradition is to offer consumables to Lord Shiva
immediately after praying because he is considered to
be an impatient god. The delay annoys him, so is the
religious legend. His idol should not be anointed with
water. In Shiva pooja the conchshell is not worshiped.
Before worshiping Shiva one must apply ashes to one’s
forehead and Rudraksha mala (the string of Rudraksha
beads) should be worn in the neck.
There are a number of sects of Shiva devotees.
Every sect has its own mode of worship. Some sects
use various symbolic lingams to represent Shiva. In
Shiva worship, after making offerings conch shell is
blown before the main prayer.

WHY SHIVA WORSHIP AT NIGHT?

The 14 day of the descending moon phase of

vernacular Falguna month (December-January), is
celebrated as ‘Maha Shivaratri’ by Hindus. That is the
night of the grand worships of Shiva. The rest of the
gods and goddesses are worshiped during the day but
Shiva worship is reserved for the night.
On that night devotees religiously celebrate Shiva
all night long. ‘Nath’ sect of his devotees go around
after midnight blowing conch shells creating an eerie
atmosphere. In the hill areas of deep snow the effect is
bizarre.
But why he is worshiped at night?
100
 Lord Shiva is the deity of destruction and the dark
forces. So, the dark night is naturally dear to him. The
night is the time of the predators when they set out to
enact nightly destruction of life. The night is also the
ender of the daily business life of humans. He goes to
sleep temporarily destroying his consciousness. The
dark forces set out to torment the world in the form of
ghosts, spirits and apparitions.
The dark nights of the descending moon phase
encourage criminal and immoral activities.
Shiva is worshiped during this period of darkness
to keep him in benevolent mood to keep the dark
tendencies in check.
The question is that 14th of the descending moon
phase comes every month, so what is so, special about
the one of Falguna month? Right, all the 14ths are
referred to in scriptures are ‘Shivaratris’. But this one
is ‘Mahashivaratri’ because it occurs in the vernacular
last month of the year. It is the last ‘Shivaratri’ of the
year. In other words it is the final Shivaratri fit to be
called ‘Mahashivaratri’.
There is one more reason. ‘Mahashivaratri’ comes
right after the autumn when trees stand denuded of
their leaves. All the leaves have fallen down to become
a carpet of seasonal destruction over the earth. The
trees stand bare providing a picture of desolateness, the
happy hunting ground of the dark forces.

WHY FAST AND JAGRANA ON

MAHASHIVARATRI?

Lord Krishna has said in Gita that the working day

of a spiritualist begins as the night approaches and he
101
spends the night in religious endeavours. On Shivaratri
night the devotees wish to stay awake all night and
worship their deity, Lord Shiva. And for that purpose
missing night meals is a sensible custom.
Eating would make it difficult to stay awake. Food
intake intoxicates the body with satisfaction which
induces the sleepiness. Fighting away sleep will be a
distraction from the worship and meditation of Shiva.
Shiva is a fierce deity and he won’t be pleased with any
dilution of the devotion in his faithful.
So, fast and stay awake to pay obeisance to Lord
Shiva on Mahashivaratri, the night devoted to him.

WHY SHOULD WOMEN RECITE

VEDIC MANTRAS?

Some biased and outdated elements have inserted

the ruling in the scriptures that the recitation of Vedic
mantras are forbidden for women because women
have no intellectual scope for understanding Vedas.
There always has been gender bias against women.
Some ancient scholars also suffered from this bias and
allowed their intellect to be poisoned by this bias which
resulted in the distortions in the orders of Shastras.
Some even take advantage of the physical
dissimilarities of man and woman. The women
menstruate every month. Instead of taking it merely as
a biological process effort was made to create a notion
that it was a kind of disability or an unclear process that
defiled the female body. A verdict was concocted that
she was unfit to participate in any sacred act or
religious custom.

102
 But the time has nailed all such falsehoods. The
women are proving themselves to be equal to men in
every field of human endeavour including sports,
adventure, science, literature and creative arts. In some
fields they do better than the men. It is unfortunate that
even today there is a section of orthodox clergy that is
clinging to the biased ruling that women have no right
to recite the mantras of Vedas. Even one of the
Shankaracharyas articulated his support to such
outdated orders. Needless to say that he was severely
criticized by all the sections of Indian society. Such are
the rulings that bring a bad name to our philosophy
although such orders are obviously the mischief of
some ancient imposter sages who doctored the
scriptures to foist their own narrow minded prejudices
on the society through false orders.
We should remember that Vedas preach ‘Where
women are not worshiped there God does not exist.’
That is the basic Vedic principle. Then, where is the
room for orders that try to treat women as lowly
creatures who do not deserve any religious honour?”
Several religious organisations have rejected such
false rulings added to our Shastras and ordered that the
women have every right to study and recite all Hindu
scriptures including Vedas. Their ability to read and
pronounce mantras as correctly as males can not be
questioned. There is no scientific ground to believe
that mantras voiced at different pitches make any
difference to their effect or the meaning.
Some mischief mongers did try to put forward an
absurd logic that Vedic mantras were meant to be
103
recited at low pitch of voice to retain the religious or
spiritual power. Such desperate attempts of the
orthodox minds did not succeed and got ridiculed
deservingly.
It was also claimed that mantras recited by women
did not fructify. This point also had no logic behind it.
Shastras infact rule that even three apex gods of
Hinduism, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are the products
of the supreme female force Mahamaya. All the
energies and powers are represented by the goddesses.
In such liberal philosophy where is the place for such
arrogant gender bias?

WHY ‘OM’ IS SO SIGNIFICANT?

There is a lots of written literature explaining the

significance of ‘OM’ which actually is pronounced like
AOM. Preachers can speak for hours on this word
which in vernacular script is represented bya letter, the
sixth vowel (•’• and a dot added to it to give it nasal
tone. This dot added letter encompasses the entire
Hindu philosophy and the concept of God and the
entire creation.
The legend is that when creator Brahma wishing to
know the secrets of knowledges, inspirations and the
forces and spirits behind causing him to create, prayed
to Science Supreme or Truth Ultimate, the’ letter •
(Om) emerged before his mind’s eye. With that insight
the truths, realisations and knowledges began to
enlighten his mind.
He uttered ‘OM’ and started making revelations
through vedic scripts. No knowledges eluded him.
104
 Devanagri script has 44 letters. All letters combine
to create the language of Sanskrit which can reveal all
knowledges, truths and answers to all mysteries
through words written or spoken. But the single letter
‘OM’ by itself enlighten one making the other letters
superfluous. It is the truth egg.
It is like the cosmic egg (Brahmtand) which
explodes in a big bang creating the galaxies, black
holes, space, stars, planets, moons and evolutionary
processes, cosmic forces and expanding outward
thrust. A time will come the universe will start to
contract and eventually go back to become cosmic egg
again. It will explode again.
Similarly the truth egg explodes revealing all the
facts, realities, truths and knowledges. If ail the
knowledges are focussed at one point or are reduced
into just one expression it will be ‘OM’.
The big bang reality is still vibrating through the
universe as humming echo of that mighty explosion,
duplicated in the truth egg as ‘Ommmmm...’. That is
why the chant of ‘OM’ is prescribed. It the primary
sound that heralded all the evolutions and is still
echoing. ‘OM’ is one letter ode to that event.
The sounds that a child first makes naturally is aaa,
000, mmm which makes ‘aom’ the pronounced version
of ‘OM’. It is something connected to a very basic
nature phonetically. The Hindu belief calls the universe
‘Brahmand’ which literally means cosmic egg. And
‘OM’ is the sound that reverberates through the cosmos
as a result of the big bang. It is completely in
conformity with the scientific theory.
105
 In the moments of extreme satisfaction and the
_contentment the audio expression naturally coming out
of the vocal cords is ‘Ummm’ which again is derivative
of ‘OM’. And God is the ultimate satisfaction,
contentment and joy.
‘OM’ has been interpreted in thousand ways
because it contains the very fundamental cosmic truth.
Theists have their own dozens of explanations. And the
beauty is that every explanation sounds very logical. A
rose differently named in different languages and used
in different contexts, version, formats, comparisons,
backgrounds and situations smells the same, a scent of
romance. Similarly ‘OM’ gives off the fragrance of the
fundamental cosmic truth in whichever way spelt.
This phonetic aspect of ‘OM’ is not limited to
Hindu belief only. In some special respects human
mind is effected by some mysterious wave uniformly
without discrimination cutting across all religious and
cultural lines. Om’s parallel in Christianity is ‘Amen’
and ‘Ameen’ in Islam. It also proves the correctness of
the brotherhood of mankind theory. Deep down entire
human religious and emotional feelings are uniform
and identical. Same is the case with negative
expression. For some undefined reason every culture
and society has coined the word for negative reply
starting with ‘N’. It is ‘No’ in English. ‘Non’ in French,
‘Nein’ in German, ‘Nahin’ in Hindu, ‘Nyet’ in Russian
and ‘Na’, ‘Nay’ ‘Nah’ etc. in other languages. It proves
another Hindu belief that ‘God in soul form runs
through every creature binding us all spiritually. It
seems to be correct by implication.
106
 The scientific theory is that some kind of waves of
intelligence keep sweeping the world from time 10.
time. When religious wave hits the people all over the
world begin to think on same religious wave length.
When radio age comes the scientists all over the world
begin thinking of radio waves and _ frequencies
although they have no connection with one another.
When atomic knowledge wave sweeps the researchers
all over the world start working on fission theories
independently. Every one appears to be thinking on the
same lines. Now it is the chip revolution. All ideas are
revolving around chips.
Shastras have defined various customs of chanting
‘Om’. Its chant spiritually attunes one to the cosmic
hum of big bang echo which creates the harmony
between the chanter and rest of the universe. It results
in a feeling of being in peace with the world.

WHY CHANT MANTRAS?

It is now an established scientific fact that

repetition of acts gives peace and emotional security to
the mind. We live in a world that is constantly changing
and it creates pressure on mind to change accordingly.
The result is tension.
The habits, daily rituals, worships, ceremonies and
festivals act as soothing balms because they assure the
mind that there is no change really. They come to
represent the permanent values. The human mind finds
peace anchored to them in the turbulent waters of
constant demands for change. As the time makes more
demands for changes and as the pressure to adopt new
107
life style, culture, outlook, work ethic and habits
increase we become more dependent on permanent
values to find solace.
The people flock to godmen, babas, yogis, sants,
swamis and gurus who preach permanent values of
religion which they find soothing.
Thus repeated acts in various forms give solace to
mind. For the same reason a man chanting mantras can
feel at peace. It involves repetition of words which is
an antidote of change. The pressure for change was
always there in every era but the pressure was so soft
that no one cared to research on the fact that traditions,
customs and rituals gave certain relief to adherents.
As time progressed and new inventions drastically
affected the traditional styles of living, working and
thinking. The increased demands for changes made
human life full of pressures and tensions. Blood
pressure and heart diseases became rampant.
It led to the research on the subject and the ‘Future
shock’ theory emerged that explained how pressure for
changes creates the brain benumbing effect.
In the self defence the brain retreats into the safe
shelter of traditional customs, rituals, annual fairs,
festivals and all those activities that include repetitive
acts. The brain draws comfort from the fact the there
are things that don’t change and they occur unchanged
regularly again and again just like old times.
Mantras have been fulfilling this role from the
ancient times. Their daily repetitive chant comforted
the mind and the faithfuls found themselves at peace
with their inner self and the world outside.

108
 The mantra chant has one more usefulness in
respect of progression. It helps one progress spiritually
In a systematic way.
When one begins to chant mantras it is combined
vocal and mental exercise. Gradually the vocal part
becomes less and less audible, Eventually it dies out
and mind repeats the mantra itself silently. Finally the
repetition process ends into the mantra changing into a
spiritual energy which keeps the mind lit up. That is the
stage that every devotee aims to achieve where he can
truly claim to have become master of that particular
mantra. The person feels the presence of the deity the
mantra 15related to
Every worship begins with that sublime goal. But
can every worshiper or chanter of mantra reach that
point? No. It is like education.
All people go through schooling and college
education process. Every one would wish to win Nobel
prize in one’s own field. Only a few win Nobel Prize in
the end. That does not make education a futile exercise.
The education still proves basic qualification of a
person whatever level of station in life he reaches. It
becomes the power of the person with which he deals
with the life in its every aspect.
Similarly worship improves one’s understanding
of spiritual aspects of life. It makes a person dutiful,
honest, punctual, responsible, kind, compassionate,
religious and makes him a person of high moral
character. So, not reaching stage of ‘Master of Mantra’
is not a failure really.
109
 Shastras have determined the degrees of the
difficulty in pleasing various deities. The deities have
been classified accordingly as most easy to attain to the
most difficult. |

WHY WORSHIP GURU ALONG SIDE DEITY?

Hindu Shastras equate guru to deity because he

guides the disciple to his final goal. In ancient times
guru imparted knowledge without any vested monetary
interest. Hence, they were more venerable for pupil.
Only interest they had was success of the taught which
they considered to be their main reward. Guru was
embodiment of the divine spirit of service.
Especially for a person who had not become
formally ascetic by renouncing the family and the
world, the guru was essential to guide one through the
path of spiritual pursuit. As a family man one had to
maintain a fine balance between his duties to the family
and the spiritual endeavour. This balance was only
possible when one delegated his spiritual exercises in
the care of the guru’s guidance.
So, Shastras ordered guru to be treated as a deity to
inculcate the required level of reverence to guru to
induce more milk of spiritual knowledge out of him.
The equation of deity and guru could lead to a situation
where the spiritual exercise became common
endeavour of guru and the disciple which made the
success more feasible.
Shastras call this unification of the purpose
‘Deeksha’. ‘Dee’ literally means ‘imparted’ and ‘ksha’
means ‘imbiber’. Guru imparted knowledge and the
110
pupil imbibed it. The aim for the pupil has been set as
‘Becoming the extension of guru’s knowledge or
intellectual conscience.’
Shastras have set some rituals and customs to be
exercised in interaction between guru and the shishya
to maintain the sanctity of the relationship. Some
formalities have to be gone through to give it the
gravity of tradition.

WHY PAY GURU DAKSHINA?

In ancient times at the completion of the education

a disciple used to ask guru formally what he could do
for the guru for the knowledge imparted to him.
The guru could ask for anything and the disciple
fulfilled the demand whatever it took. It could be asum
of money, on object, a promise or a pledge, a condition,
a task or anything. It was called ‘Guru Dakshina’ an
ultimate tribute to the teacher from his grateful student.
And the belief was that unless the disciple fulfilled
‘Guru Dakshina’ demand the knowledge imparted
would not fructify. Infact it was the final test to see how
sincerely the student had received the education and
how he valued it. If the student was serious and
committed to the education he would naturally value it.
And the dedication should prove rewarding.
What education can help a frivolous pupil?

WHY MAKE A WISH?

The religious conduct, faith, meditation and

worship as the practices of daily life are divinely
rewarding. But when there is lack of faith or religion in
111 |
daily life the people resort to making wishes or
pledging something to deities in the return to the
fulfilment of a certain wish. It is the sign of the
acceptance of defeat when all the material efforts fail
and the sheer desperation sets in.
Although illogical yet several sects have given it a
shape of the accepted custom to draw the devotee to
their faith. Sometimes it looks like a brazen attempt to
bribe gods or goddesses. In exchange for the grant of
wish, the wish maker pledges to perform some
religious rite or present something of value. Many
Hindu temples, trees, idols or pilgrim centres are
famous as wish granters where a wish can be made
through a particular ritual. Apledge is made as to what
a wish maker would do if the wish is really granted.
Christian faith has wishing well legends or ‘wish
upon a falling star’ traditions. Muslims have their own
‘Peer’ or ‘Fakir’ durgahs where one can make a wish.
There is also a tradition of tying wish invoked
threads to pillars, railings or trees.
It is amazing how crowds converge on such
wishful places proving the fact that when material
efforts fail people turn to gods as a last gamble. In a
hopeless situation man hopes for a miracle. It is
perhaps the spiritual version of the man’s ‘Never say
die’ spirit, the secret of the man’s survival against all
adversities. It is what makes man superior to animals
who accept death and defeat when their physical efforts
fail. But the man, in such situations digs deep into his
mysterious spiritual depths and comes up with the
miracle hope.
112 WHY—7
 The redeeming factor of this phenomenon is that
devotees converge at such places cutting across the
religious lines. There remains no religious distinction.
In the desperate situations humans unite forgetting all
their differences.
On this issue it won’t be correct to apply the logic
angle. Because in a desperate situation man resorts to
desperate attempts. A drowning man catches at a straw
however illogical it may look.
But there are majority cases where wishes are of a
silly kind like a student wishing for the pass marks in
the examination, a man asking for the favourable court
decision, an employee wanting promotion or for losses
in the busyness turning into profits.
Here also there is room for consideration. Such
Situations might be trivial but for the persons
concerned it can be the matters of life and death in their
own narrow perspectives.
Whatever is the situation, if the wish is fulfilled by
miracle or coincidence the wish maker should fulfil his
pledge whatever it costs or takes to do. A person should
be true to his commitment and promise must be kept. It
is a matter of principle. If he does not he will
degenerate. He will grow a habit of making false
promises and pledges which eventually will destroy his
credibility and finally his social standing. If 2 breach is
allowed to be made in the wall of the moral dam, it will `
in a very short time blow away the whole structure.
To save one’s own conscious and self-respect one
should keep up solemn promise made to prevent
erosion of his moral values.
113
 Then, there is a psychological angles to it. Ifa man
has basically positive attitude he may get spurred on to
put some extra effort to realise what he has made a wish
for. This factor.also might prove helpful.

WHY WE NEED GOD’S MERCY?

Some people argue that God has given us two

hands, two legs, two eyes and the brain, so why should
we seek his mercy?
That sounds very arrogant. When we talk of God,
we talk of universe and the infinite limits, infinite
quantity and infinite qualities. Man is a small creature,
on a tiny mud ball of an insignificant star called sun.
Against the backdrop of universe our existence is
infinitely insignificant.
We are merely silk worms cuccooned in by our
physical, emotional and intellectual limitations
floating in the expanse of limitlessness for a very short
time. Our much touted technology can not even carry
us across the solar system in a meaningful time frame.
If we send astronauts to the planet Uranus of our
solar system through our present space technology they
will come back only at the end of 1600 years. Forget
about the other stars, our galaxy and beyond.
So, how funny our achievements are! We can
meaningfully reach out to the cosmic realities by
linking ourselves to the God force that pervades
through the universe and only it can help us to
understand what infinity is. Einstein had rightly said
that man was just a child playing with pebbles on the
sand of the shore of the sea of knowledge.
114
 Every particle of the matter of this cosmos or non-
matter or anti-matter is source of some kind of
knowledge or source of knowledge. To reach to it we
do need a spiritual vehicle because it is beyond the
scope of physical science or mechanics.
We seek the mercy of God admitting our own
limitations to become a part of the force that is
limitless. The humility is good conductor of spiritual
energy whereas pride or arrogance is as bad as a piece
of dry wood is for the electric energy. On religious
plain God is a composite force of all the positive
energies. Kindness being a positive quality one can
assume that God has limitless amount of it. So, aman
shall naturally take advantage of it.
Shastra says— ‘Punasya Phalmichchhanti
Punyam Naichhanti Manva’ which means a man wants
the rewards of good deeds but fails to perform enough
good deeds.
And contrary to it he does not want penalties for
misdeeds but nevertheless can’t help doing them out of
his own weaknesses, limitations lack of resistance and
being prone to errors. So, he seeks the mercy of God.
Seek mercy but be careful. Don’t take it as a
licence to indulge in misdeeds willfully.

WHY RELIGIOUS RITES AND

CUSTOMS ARE DIFFERENT?

A religious rite is a ritual usually performed by a

priest or family priest according to the procedure laid
out by scriptures or Shastras. It is uniformly practised
by the entire society without any transgression or |
115
deviation. All the instructions given by Shastras are
followed in toto.
But a religious custom is more in the form of a
tradition and is influenced by local beliefs, traditions,
incidents and cultures. The passage of time also leaves
its imprints on a custom by altering it in many ways.
Hence religious customs are different in different
areas, societies, segments of the societies and even
families. Some families introduce their own changes to
a custom as a result of some experience of its member
or an incident happening in the family at some point of
time.

WHAT IS RUDRAKSHA?

Shastras order the use of rudraksha, the beads in

the prayer string of beads. (Mala)
Rudraksha is fruit of the tree of the same name.
The berry like fruits of the tree dry up into rudraksha
bead of dark brownish colour. Its size is equal to that of
black berry but rudraksha is round shaped which
makes it a perfect string bead.
The dried up shrivelled skin gives it a distinct
character and roughness just ideal for the thumb to turn
over. And the weight 15right.
It is claimed that rudraksha has some medicinal
properties and just wearing rudraksha string does good
to the body.
The mythological legend is that to slay Tripurasura
demon. Lord Shiva took Rudra incarnation. The tears
shed by the eyes of Rudra Shiva became rudraksha.
And it literally means ‘Tear of Rudra’. The legend lent
116
it the sanctity to become the bead of religious abacus.
And it matched the Hindu colour, saffron.
Shastras have prescribed bead strings of different
numbers of rudrakshas for different kinds of chants
that invoke the related gods or the goddesses. There
also are orders regarding its care, respect and worship.

WHAT?’S MEDITATION?

A meditation can be done only if the doer knows

what his or her aim or goal is, be it a spiritual goal or
aimed deity resolved to be pleased for some blessing.
The true meditation is emptying of the mind of all
thoughts except the goal and beaming one’s mind on
that goal or aim. As the meditation progresses the focus
will become sharper and sharper. The highest degree of
achievement is the focus getting reduced into a small
luminous dot although it is rarely achieved.
The dot can become the enlightenment sought or it
can expand into the deity form aimed at finally
becoming visible to the mind’s eye.
Then, the devotee can claim to have achieved the
darshana of the deity.
OO

117
 iis“We
Chapter-HI

PERIODIC FASTS-FESTIVALS

The periodic fasts and the festivals are the soul and
the spirit of Hinduism. One may not practise Anhik,
daily religious customs and conducts or take up
complex endeavours of meditation and daily deity
worship regime but every Hindu does keep fast at his
fancy, or resolve or as personal endeavour for whatever
spiritual or physical reasons.
Organising Kathas in the fashion of a festival is
another Hindu trait. Through Kathas, Jagranas and
118
religious ceremonies he manifests his faith in his
religion and at the same time he uses the occasion to
pick up the threads of his social life, makes it a family
get-together, mends fences with his neighbours and
fetes everyone to demonstrate that basically he is a
good person who has no ill will towards others. Infact
a Hindu derived all those advantages a Westerner did
from cocktail parties which included the proverbial
‘clinching the deal’. And the practice goes on. Every
year most of the families organise some religious
custom or the other which is conducted by the
traditional family priest or a hired one. In some kathas
or recitation more than one priest are invited.
In these modern times priest groups speicialised in
particular pooja or katha are available. They have their
own musical back up. The families just arrange for
space, shamiana and mass feast
Shastras have ordered these religious functions to
keep the faithfuls reminded of their duties towards
their faith, spiritual progress and the Creator.
A lot a such pooja’, kathas and fasts are
prescribed for special days or periods of the years.
These acts become a tradition of the family and through
them individuals get the feeling of belonging to a blood
line and continuity. One can touch his roots.
Women folk of the family are most enthusiastic
about these customs and zealously perpetuate them.
Many of the beliefs smack of blind faith.
But there also is a logic. In our families women are
intellectually ignored lot. No one gives any importance
to their views. If ever they dare to air their opinion on
119
any matter concerning the affairs of the family they are
cut short by one of the male members with a rude
remark implying that she need not spell her stupid
ideas. It is kind of extreme mental torture. Women folk
wonder if they were really human beings with so called
intelligence. –@

HOW DO WOMEN RETAIN SANITY?

It is here that religious customs, traditions and

some rituals based on blatant superstition come handy.
Here is a zone where women can assert themselves. For
some strange reason men folk in these matters often
yield ground to women. |
Thus, actually these customs are women’s foothold
on the sanity. These are the occasions where women
folk call the shots. It assures them that they matter after
all and are members of the human race.

WHY KEEP FASTS? —

The religious fast means not taking food or
accepting only what Shastras allows in most cases the
custom is to take water only and avoid all the solid and
liquid foods. In some long duration fasts juice or
certain fruits are permitted to be taken if so desired. In
some strict fasts even water is not allowed. Such fasts
are called ‘Nirjala’. |
The fast is prescribed to broken with a semi-liquid
vegetarian food for the gentle return to the normal diet.
From the medical point of view no one would
disagree over the usefulness of the fasts. It is the best
way to keep digestive system unburdened. It is dieting
120
on the religious format. All the good that dieting does
to body is also achieved through fasting with the added
benefit of the toning up of mind and the conscience.
The dieting is physical beauty oriented while fasting as
religious custom is spiritual piety focussed. The
regular fasting can keep away obeisity and the diseases
related to it. A fast a week can keep one fine tuned
which does reflect in his work output and efficiency.
Fasts undertaken as religious custom has several
advantages. Dieting through fasting custom makes it a
regular regime because it becomes a religious duty and
spiritual obligation gets attached td it. Simple dieting
just being a weight reducing exercise does not carry
any moral commitment and it can be given up at
slightest whim or excuse.
But it is different with models who diet religiously
because of professional commitment. An ordinary
person can create same kind of commitment by
aligning his fast to some religious custom. Better a
weekly or twice a week commitment would become
solemn by following the Shastra orders regarding the
chosen fast. Once it becomes spiritual obligation one
will carry on the fast regime religiously and there will
be little danger of its being given up.
The fasting involves self control and some
sacrifice. After a period of regular fasting the spirit of
sacrifice and controlled conduct will enhance one’s
moral character which will raise the person’s social and
professional status undoubtedly. The commitment to
fast will make one conscious of piety and the noble
values in him will rule the fasting day or the period. A
121
fasting person tends to grow into a better and better
person.
The prominent fast regimes prescribed by Shastras
are Mangal Vrata, Nirjala Ekadashi, Purnmasi Vrata,
Shukra Vrata, Shani Vrata, Grahan Vrata, Shivratri
Vrata, one meal a day Vrata etc.etc.
Remember that fasting is the way to disciplined
life professionally and spiritually. The former can earn
you success and the latter may open the doors of
heaven for you
Thus a fast is the fast channel to success and God

WHY WORSHIP VIRGIN GIRL?

Every year Hindus enthusiastically observe a nine

day Navratra. This nine day period is dedicated to
Goddess Durga, whose nine dimensions are celebrated
one each day. It is a nine day stretch when a devotee
sticks religiously to vegetarian diet. During this period
drinks are avoided. Some people voluntarily forego sex
also as it is considered a violent act.
This period breaks the monotony of routine life
and injects a new discipline of Navratra regime. It is
like annual spiritual refresher course. The women have
great stake in it and most of the worships and other
rituals are female oriented. The atmosphere in the
society and families become charged with feminine
preferences and enthusiasm. The scenes are dominated
by activities in homes and markets.
Male domination so visible in everyday life takes a
break for a change. It is religious way of enforcing the
principles of equality of man and woman in the
importance in the life of the society.
122
 Navratra celebrations culminate in feeding and
worshiping young virgin girls.
Hinudism believes in the universal creative forces
to be feminine gender. The very original force is
Mahamaya whose inspiration created the gods and the
rest of the cosmos. The inspiration is the life force of
the entire creation. All the major and minor energies
and forces are represented by various goddesses.
Navratra deity Durga and all her dimensions are
believed to be the manifestations of the same basic
inspiration Mahamaya.
Thus, a virgin girl is the symbol of the pure basic
creative force according to this philosophy.

KAALI MA

One of the dimensions of Durga is Kaali Ma, the

fierce goddess revered by Hindus. These dimensions
has some very startling scientific facts.
Kaali Ma literally translated means Black Mother.
The recent scientific researches on the origins of
human species reveals that the entire human race
irrespective of colour and sizes can be traced back to
one woman of African origin. The colours, sizes and
features changed over a long period of times as man
migrated to the different parts of the globe in the Ice
Age. Those who moved in the colder regions of the
west and the Europe underwent changes of pigment to
become white or red. The groups who moved towards
North East became pale, short and flat noses. Other
developed other shades of colour and features.
But the family tree of every race leads back to one
123
African woman who can truly be called the mother of
the human race, a black woman represented in Hindu
religion as ‘Kali Ma’, the black mother. Kaali Mas
posture is tongue hanging out symbolically conveying
the message that she was flesh eater. The tradition is of
offering sacrifice of bull buffalo to her. Indian bull
buffalo is like African wilder beast which no doubt was
the main source of the food of that black woman.
Ancient scriptures in incredible ways appear to
reveal the scientific facts what we are discovering
today. Then, there is the mention of the world ‘Patal’
where there were only snakes of all kinds. Are they
referring to the reptile age? There also is mention of
worlds of Rakshasas, Daityas and Avadhoots that
uncannily resemble the creatures of Jurassic Age.
Daitya hints towards dinosaur’s gigantic size.
It is sad that no one has cared to do extensive
research on our Shastras in this light.

WHY CONSIGN GANAPATI IDOL TO

WATERS?

Every year Ganapati Bappa festival is celebrated

with much fanfare especially in Maharashtra.
Traditionally every household has its own idol for
worshiping. Then there are giant Ganapati statues in
community centres. The festival is celebrated every
year. At the end of the celebration the custom is to
ceremoniously carry the idols to the sea or river front
and consign them to the waters. At places the lakes are
also used for this purposes.
The tradition of consigning the idols to the waters

124
 is logical. If this practice is not carried out then after the
celebrations the people would lose interests in the
worship and there is danger of the deity idols through
neglect and carelessness subjected to some unitended
dishonour which can hurt the faith and lower the
respect of the deity. In homes the same problem will
arise. As the custom is to instal new idol every year
there will arise space problem if the idols are not
disposed-off through some honourable custom.
The small living spaces of Indian homes can hardly
accommodate one idol.
Then, there in the question of the livelihood of
those thousands of people whose profession is to make
idols. Only consigning the idols at the end of the
_celebrations can guarantee the demand of new idols in
the new year to keep them in business. From whichever
angle we look the custom of consigning the idols to the
water is necessity although now it is creating water
pollution problem as newer kinds of idols and statues -
are being made from the synthetic material that is not
bio-degradable
This problem can become acute as the demand for
the idols are likely to keep rising every year due to the
increase in the purchasing power of the people. We are
today spending more on celebrations.
The religious authorities need to look into this
matter and work out an acceptable solution.

WHY WISH UPON A BANYAN?

In Hindu religion trees have great importance.

Vedas order every faithful to plant and rear five trees in
| 125
his life time as a part of his religious duty. Those trees
are advised to be treated as brothers. It recognises the
basic fact that all living entities are basically related as
they are all living manifestations of God force.
At cell level humans and plants have similar
structure. In origin we are siblings.
Our sages meditated under trees and gained their
wisdoms. They all selected banyan trees because they
provided extensive overhead protection from heat and
rain. And Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained
enlightenment is also a banyan.
Holy men and preachers also select banyan tree to
camp under and impart knowledge to others. In ancient
times and even today teachers hold their classes under
banyan trees. Banyan is related to our education in
various ways from ‘ABC’ to spiritual enlightenment.
Various trees are worshiped in Hindu tradition for
different reasons besides medicinal values and fruits.
They are considered living gods that breathe Oxygen
into us and make our wishes come true.
Women worship banyans wishing long life for
their husbands. They tie cotton threads around banyan
trunks while making their wish. It is perhaps symbol of
long life. Every banyan tree has seen generations of a
family come and go. They are witnesses to history like
sentinels of time
Naturally the belief also took roots that a banyan
tree can bless one with a long life.

WHY VISHNU IN THE SEA OF MILK?

Hindu religion believes that the three gods—

126
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are manifest forms of
Unmanifest God. Brahma creates, Vishnu supports the
creations and inspires evolutions and finally Shiva
destroys all through doom.
The milk is the symbol of kindness and basic
support of life as it literally fosters a newborn. The
kindness and support medium are needed to keep the
creations alive and thrive.
There is a scientific theory as well. It is foreseen
that millions of years down the line new ice age will
begin which will violently shock the current life forms
forcing a fresh evolution of life like the last Ice Age
affected. In a likely scenario the sea will become a
churning mass and its entire surface will be covered
with a great layer of white foam making it look like
milkshake. A gigantic sea creature spread over
hundreds of kms. is supposed to evolve which will be
like a mindboggling flotilla which will have thousands
of hood like projections grown upwards. It will cast
down thousands of tubular suspensions going deep
into the sea to suck in life support foods.
Lord Vishnu is supposed to be reclining on
thousand hooded Sheshnaga in the sea of milk,
‘Kshirsagara’. The scene is uncannily similar. We can
visualise Vishnu as the evolutionary spirit.
For the Shastras it has already happened but for
the science it is to happen, the Sheshnaga, Vishnu and
sea milk phenomenon.
WHY DOES LAXMI PRESS
THE FEET OF VISHNU?

In our scriptures goddess Laxmi is visualised as

127
pressing the feet of reclinings Lord Vishnu. Laxmi is
manifestation of basic Force Supreme that inspired the
entire creation. Yet why should the Creator be serving
the created? This is a puzzle.
The religious scholars explain that Laxmi
represents the inspiring force while Vishnu is
responsible for the actual act of sustaining the
universe. By pressing the feet of Vishnu goddess
Laxmi is paying tribute to the labour. In other words
inspiration accepting the superiority of perspiration
because Vishnu is actually performing the toiling part
of the task.
_ Or is there trace of male chauvinism? Because
even sages were not free of prejudice against the
women. Often it betrayed their own wisdom and
sagacity. The reader is free to draw his own
conclusions. |

WHY LAXMI RIDES AN OWL?

Mythological belief is that the goddess of

prosperity Laxmi uses the owl as her private carrier.
Whenever she accompanies her husband Lord Vishnu
his carrier the divine eagle serves the purpose.
It is symbolic concept. Laxmi goes on her own
mostly to bless those who aspire for wealth, money and
material prosperity. The owl is the symbol of wisdom
in the West but in Hindu philosophy it is the symbol of
stupidity. And of course it is nocturnal creature. So, in
our context we can assume that it points to foolishness
and darkness.
Hindu philosophy firmly believes that spiritualism
is the true human endeavour and the goal of life is the
128 WHY—8
union with Creator. The pursuits of material gains is
looked down upon as a stupid act of a person who has
not seen the light of the spiritual wisdom to know that
the real treasure is love for God. Only the ignorant seek
gold, gems and riches that will keep them trapped in the
birth and the death cycles for ever.

WHY ANIMAL INCARNATIONS?

Hindu Shastras believe that God has taken at least

ten incarnations. Among those incarnations are in the
forms of Fish, Turtle and Boar. Many people make fun
of it and argue why God would take incarnations as
lowly creatures? Many faithfuls even don’t appear
convinced about the logic of this animal incarnation
part of the mythological legend.
And there is no dirth of people who make these
stories an example to prove that the entire mythological
literature is figment of imagination of ancient minds.
But the objective analysis tells a different story. We
must remember that religious concepts were the first
scientific endeavours to know ‘What we are’—‘ What
are stars, sun, earth, moon and other heavenly

etc. As we have already theorised how Hindu concepts

of ‘Patal Lok’, ‘Rakshasha Lok’, ‘Kaali Ma’ etc. are
based on uncanny scientific logic. Similarly the animal
incarnations concepts has the logic of life evolution on
the earth.
For God force no creature represents a lowly life. _
Creator should be loving all its creations irrespective of
form, size, shape, domain, habitat or life style. We must
129
not categories life forms as lowly or superior ones
according to our own concepts of good or bad and
superior or inferior.
Even the worms when seen or videographed
through microscopic or telescopic lenses reveal how
carefully and lovingly the nature has designed them. In
its own right every creature is a beauty and the darling
of its Creator. In every life form for a mother her baby
is the most beauteous thing of the universe.
So is every creature to God. We have no right to
apply our biased and prejudiced judgement on others.
Why would God take incarnation as a fish or
turtle?
It has been established by scientific research and
accepted by all that the life on earth began in sea as a
single cell ‘amoeba’. Then multi-cellular creatures
evolved. The first composite creature to come into
existence was fish. Several types and species of the fish
evolved. For crores of years fish was the only creature
to inhabit this earth besides plants of planktons and
lichen kind.
During that age fish was naturally the living
manifestation of God.
In the second stage amphibians evolved. They
were the fish who ventured out of sea to creep on the
land. Gradually they evolved into creatures who could |
live in the water and on the land as well.
The turtle represented such early amphibians. It
was amphibian manifestation of God force. Turtle
incarnation of Lord Vishnu (Provider and the Inspirer
of evolutions) should be seen in this light, the divine
recognition of crustation reality.
130
 Then reptile age began on earth. Lord Vishnu
recognised this phase of evolution by declaring one of
its products to be his personal attendant in the form of
Sheshnaga, the thousand hooded reptile, the king of
Patala (reptile age).
Jurassic age was given recognition through
concepts of Daityas (Dinosaurs), Rakshashas
(Dinosaurs and other ferocious looking predatory types
of dinosaurs). Vishnu recognised the evolution of
flying creatures by accepting one of its highly evolved
type ‘Eagle’ to be his personal carrier and the nocturnal
owl to be his wife Laxmi’s carrier.
Now how could a four legged creature be denied
divine recognition? It was done by the concept of boar
incarnation. By why boar? Perhaps, because a boar
combines the features of predators and grass eaters.
Then, highly evolved two legged creature with
intelligence arrived in the form of the human. So, he
took incarnation as (man-lion) Narasimha, Vamana,
Parshurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and the messiahs
of the other religions to give his best manifestation.
Even homo-erectus has been given due recognition by
introducing Hanumana as the greatest servant of God.
So, we can see that the story of incarnations is
infact symbolic revelation of the stages of evolution of
life on earth. At the end of the present age it is predicted
that God will manifest Himself through ‘Kalki’
incarnation.

WHY NOT VIEW MOON ON CHATURTHI?

The Puranic legend is that when Ganesha was

chosen as prime worshipable god, all the gods paid
131
obeisance to him. Ganesha saw that Moon was casting
a funny look at his unshapely body. It angered
Ganesha. He put a curse on Moon, “Moon, the
brightness you pride over will become tainted.”
Moon realised his mistake and apologized. Then,
Ganesha said, “Alright, now on you will shine only
with sunlight and only once a week shall you fully
shine. And no human will caste a glance on you on `
Bhadra_ Chaturthi day. Anyone doing so will get
tainted like you
The religious scholars explain that on Chaturthi
day the moon shines with the killer rays of the sun. The
theory is that sun released death rays or life rays on
certain days. This theory is untested or analysed. But
we can’t outrightly reject the theory. There can be some
other explanation as well. After all we know that full
moon days trigger madness in some people. Some say
it happens due to some unexplained magnetic or
gravitational force. Can’t some similar phenomenon be
attached to Chaturthi day?

WHY AVOID EATING DURING ECLIPSE?

Shastras forbid eating food during eclipse periods.

Indirectly ancient sages believed that during eclipse
food got defiled which became unsafe for
consumption. Food is advised to be taken only after a
through bath.
A scientist named Torinston did a research on the
matter and discovered a strange fact that during the
eclipse digestive systems of creatures especially that of
humans got adversely effected. Shastras rule that 10
132
hours before an eclipse the environment begins to be
infected with space pollution.
This period is called ‘Sutak Kaal’.
After eclipse its is advised that vegetables and
food material should be treated with ‘Tulsi’. Tulsi plant
is supposed to contain some disinfectant qualities.

WHY IS TULSI GOOD?

Tulsi plant is glorified in Shastras as unique divine

plant. Every home is advised to plant a 11/57 in its
courtyard or in flower pot. It will make the place holy
like a pilgrim centre.
It is claimed that wherever there is Tulsi plant there
Yama, the god of death will not enter.
What it really means is that wherever there is Tulsi
there good health reigns and the death stays away.
Women are advised to worship Tulsi every day to
keep away widowhood. It again was based around the
belief that 7u/si had miraculous curative powers. In
Ayurveda medicine science several medicines were
prescribed that were made of various parts or
derivatives of Tulsi for different diseases. Even Tulsi
tea is used by several people as medicine or preventive
drug. The women were asked to worship 7u/si plant
perhaps to induce them to have Tulsi in home
environments.
The sages were so enamoured with the health
giving qualities of Tulsi that it was made a part of
mythological legends.
It was and is still believed that 7u/si purifies the air
better than the other plants. Its smell has disinfection
133
qualities which keeps the air free of unspecified
bacteria that can cause serious afflictions.
The powers lent to Tulsi by mythological legends
and the orders of Shastras do create a psychological
mindset that is positive and might be effective in
biological immune systems kept awakened and active.
But one thing in clear that the Tulsi legend keeps
the women of the families oriented to piety and
religion. The pious family environment makes the men
folk also, to remain straight and not indulge in drinking
or drugs. That indirectly can do a lot of good. The Tulsi
phenomenon can work in many ways.

WHY PEEPAL TREE IS WORSHIPABLE?

Hindu religion has great respect for the nature

because it believes that plant and trees are the
manifestations of God. The trees were planted in our
mythology as divine legends to inspire reverence to
trees in the minds of the faithfuls so that the trees and
the forests prospered.
Some medicinal and other useful trees were
specially selected for protection through legends
according to importance perception of the old times.
Peepal was one of the selected trees for making
them worshiped by the populace through glorification
in the legends. The peepal was one of the very common
trees that grew around human settlements. The tree was
large and everyone could guess its usefulness in terms
of greenery value, cooling the breeze and providing
shade to people in the hot summers. But its large and
tall size and proximity to human settlements could
134
make it an easy target of human needs of timber and
fire wood. It could only be protected by lending it
strong legends.
So, Shastra ruled that the glory of Vishnu lived in
peepal tree. It was said that the peepal represented all
the pilgrim centres.
The custom of worship of peepal tree was
introduced. Several religious rites were ordered to be
performed only under peepal tree.
Botanists say that peepal tree expels oxygen all 24
hours of the day uniformly while other trees dod it only
during nights more efficiently.

WHY SWASTIKA IS HOLY SIGN?

In Hindu philosophy swastika is considered the

most holy sign. It is symbol of prosperity. The symbol
itself is geometric form of prayer to the divine forces to
grant riches, pleasure, happiness and all round welfare.
Shastra rule that it is the symbolic sign of the
goddess of the prosperity, Ma Laxmi. As Laxmi is the
wife of Lord Vishnu the sign also invokes his
blessings. Rigveda rules that the swastika is the sign of
Sun-god. Ganesh Purana also claims that Swastika
represents Ganesha.
Some religious scholars believe that it is the
symbolic figure of Sudarshan Chakra, the divine
weapon of the Lord God. Swastika is attributed to
possess the divine powers of spreading goodness,
gains and turning negative into positive factors.
That is why businessmen put swastika sign on their
ledgers and safes to bring in more profits and gainful
trade. Common folk paint swastika signs on their doors
135
or door side wall wishing for prosperity and the
resultant happiness and good life. During festive
occasions womenfolk specially draw swastika signs
for the unmarred continuation of celebrations.
What exactly is Hindu swastika sign and why our
Shastras emphasize its importance for the progress and
the well being?
It is mathematical plus (+) sign which means
addition of gains. The tips of the arms of the plus sign
have clockwise extensions bent inwards in arc shape. It
gives swastika the impression of a wheel. Then four
dots are added at the crossing point on the four angles
WR-Shastra rules that the four dots represent four
directions.
It can be explained in other way. The swastika is
suggestive of a wheel which is infact the original
invention that rolled out the entire spectrum of
industrial progress. The wheel is the very sign of
industry. It also is the best symbol of speed. Entire
modern progress and prosperity is the spin off of the
wheel. The first complex machine made by man was
clock or watch. A clock is combination and alignment
of different size wheels. The clock technology gave
birth to other machines. Those countries that worked
on wheel soon became the driving forces of the world.
Even today the wheels of the machines are determining
the flow of prosperity and the progress.
The arms of the swastika can be naturally symbolic
of wheel spokes and the dots are pins or screws. A
swastika pictures a wheel at work.
That makes perfect sense.
OU
136
 Chapter-IV

TRADITIONS & CUSTOMS

Anhik, conducts worship and spiritual pursuits are

the different aspects of the religion. Cultural traditions
are souls of the religion as it is the product of the values
inculcated by the religion in the society. It reflects in
the character of a society and in its members. The
traditions repeat themselves and become habits that
Stay with a person till his end. They even get imbibed
by soul and are carried forward to the next lives. Hindu
religion is thus based on the foundation of firm
137
traditional values. That is the real secret of its
undestructiveness and the survival through all testing
times.
The traditions are like smelters which process a
person’s character and give it the shine like smeltering
produces the gleaming metal as the finished product.
They shape a person’s mindset and polish the character.
The traditions set by Hinduism is the practical
application of the sublime thoughts contained in the
scriptures namely Vedas, Smritis and Puranas (minus
the mischievous insertions by the vested interests).
The religion ordered traditions and customs are
performed in the presence of the fire. The fire is the
witness to all the customs, traditions and rites. Any
ritual done in the absence of fire is as raw as uncooked
food or as unacceptable as a document written in pencil
on a fig leaf.
All the major acts of a Hindu’s life are required to
be put through a proper custom, ritual, tradition or
.ceremony to lend it the religious solemnity and
sanctity. Many modern people pooh-pooh the tradition
and customs without realising that there is some sound
logic and scientific reasons behind them. They are
infact the water mark that distinguishes a human life
from the life of an animal. The only unfortunate things
is that several religious orders have been
misinterpreted, misdirected, misunderstood and
misused by vested elements in the religious hierarchy
for exploitation of the masses. Or it is merely shallow
knowledge of the ritualistic priests that gave bad name
to the customs.
We are trying to provide some explanations.
138
 WHY CASTE SYSTEMS?

The caste systems proposed by Hindu Shastra is

not what they were and still are being practised.
Brahmin scholars deliberately misinterpreted the letter
and the intent of the Shastras to make the highest
category as their own family preserve.
Vedic sages propounded the caste theory taking the
society as one huge body symbolising a person—
‘Brahnanosya Mukhanasid’. Bahu Rajanya Krite Uru
Tadasya Yadavaishya, Padabhyam Shudroojayate.’ It
means the society person produced Brahmin from
mouth, Kashtriya from arms, Vaishya from belly and
Shudra from the feet.
This categorisation was in relation to the function
of the parts of the body. The word caste in Shastras
merely means category. And not something a person
was condemned to by birth. Any one born could fall
into any category according to his capacity and the
vocation he took to in life.
Brahmins here merely referred to the academic
category. In today’s application Brahmin category can
include all scholars writers, teachers, professors,
intelligentsia members and generally educated people
with academic pursuits. Knowledge is not something
that is inherited property. It has to be learnt through
hard work and intelligent brain. The traditional
Brahmins interpreted it as a birth right and messed up
the Hindu society to make it an irrational society. A
Brahmin, even if an idiot could stake claim to the Noble
Prize for literature for writing nothing.
139
 Kshatriya was meant to be the ruling class since in
the ancient times only the warriors ruled the lands.
Then, the sword decided who would be the king. Even
the princes, having the inherited right to the throne
needed the support of warriors. Or the neighbourhood
king would march in with his warriors to claim the
throne. Only a warrior prince could command the
respect of his warriors. So, power was a warrior’s
game.
Today we live in a different world. The power
game has shifted to the politicians and the captains of
the industry. The warrior or soldier is no more power
player except in military dictatorships. In the Indian
context the politicians and the captains of the industry
can be classified as the Kshatriyas. After all the
politicians today fight the battle of the ballot on a
different format. The traditional soldiers are today
merely a back up force. But for a long time Kshatriyas
also took advantage of misinterpreted caste theory to
make themselves direct partners to the rulers.
Today warriors are members of the armed forces,
sports persons, adventurists, actors, actresses and
models because they rule our mind and hearts. They all
combine to become the ruling class of modern times.
Vaishyas are trade and commerce people. That is a
wide and big segment of the population.
Shudras is a word that has been used in a very
derogatory sense to mean the ‘lowly people’. Shudra
infact means person who individually might count
little (Shudra) but as a group they become work force.
140
They are the people who provide services. They can
include government servants also, workers of public
service undertakings and people in private sector
services.
The castes were only professional categories. The
castes have been compared to various parts of the
society person. No part of the body is despised. If
shudras have been compared only to our feet. Do we
desire to dispose off our feet? We respect and take care
of our feet like any other part of our body. We don’t
consider feet to be the untouchable part of our body.
In the today’s world the feet wear the most
expensive accessory of the human dress, shoes.
Then why in the society so-called Shudras were
degraded into untouchables? That is how several ruling
and the orders of our Shastras were horrendously
misinterpreted and misused to mistreat a section of the
human society.
In a way our sages had followed the rules of the
nature. A bee colony has different kinds of bees namely
queen bee, care taker bees, worker bees, scout bees etc.
In the ant colony there are a separate section of soldier
ants. But the difference is that in bee colonies and ant
hills worker bees and ants are not treated as
untouchables. All the types of bees and ants are treated
as equals and important sections of their societies.
Similarly the idea of castes was conceived to create
an orderly society of various professional groups. It
was not meant to create social divisions and to spread
the hatred.
141
 WHYCO-GOTRAMARRIAGESARE
FORBIDDEN?
Hindu Shastras strictly forbid marriages between
co-gotra members. Gotra is indicative of blood
relationship.
Now it is an established fact of science that
marriage between members of the same blood
(Dynasty or clan wise) line is unhealthy. The offspring
of such unions develop serious genetic defects leading
to deformity, physical handicaps or mental
retardedness. The more diverse the blood line the more
healthy are the offspring. Nature also follows this rule.
There is definite indication that a genetic diktat is
imprinted on our cells which inspires us to fall in love
with a members of the different group or race.
It is this effect which results in the youths of enemy
clans falling in love with each other and giving birth to
love legends the world cultures are replete with. It is a
natural phenomenon, a part of the evolutionary agenda
of improving the breeds of various species.

WHY TIE KNOT IN MARRIAGE?

Tying the knot in the marriage ceremony is a very

sacred custom. It is symbolic act of making a solemn
commitment. Such rituals make a ceremony a
memorable event.
The corner of the bride’s saree is knotted with the
corner of the shoulder cloth (Dupatta) of the groom
symbolically uniting the two in the holy union.
It is hoped that the two will stand by each other
throughout their lives. The knot contains a coin,
142
flower, turmeric bulb, dhurva leaf and rice grains. The
couple must understand the symbolic importance of
those items.
The coin is the symbol that the money between the
two will the common property.
The flower is the sign of happiness and good
wishes to each other. The turmeric symbolises health
and knowledge meaning that in case of illness they will
take care of each other and keep each other healthy.
They will share the knowledge and keep it updating.
Dhurva is the token of piety and evergreen state. If
dry leaf of dhurva is put in water it turns green. It is a
promise to keep the love evergreen. The rice is the
symbol of wholesomeness.
The weddmg knot contains the sacred message of
marital life.

WHY SEVEN ROUNDS AROUND FIRE?

Fire is the sun’s representative on the earth. In the

marriage the presence of the parents of the groom and
the bride is naturally imperative. It is the world over so.
But in Hindu rites the presence of the fire is also a must.
It is the recognition of the fact that Sun is our foster
father. His presence should be the most desirable. Our
Shastras recognised this scientific fact. After all sun is
our life. The trees grow up on the energy provided by
the sunlight. The wood infact is stored sunlight. When
we burn wood we invoke sun to show up as fire. All the
food we eat contain stored energy of the sun which they
soak in from the sun light. Hence, in the real sense the
sun is our foster father and in every religious rite of
Hindu society the presence of fire is a must.
143
 On the solemn occasion of wedding, as fire, the
father sun, the very source of our life energy, stands
witness to the union of his foster children. The couple
go around the fire seven times. Each round is pledged
to an aspect of the marital life and the commitments of
the groom and the bride to each other.
However Vedas order only four rounds. The first
three rounds are led by the bride. The fourth round
headed by the groom. Symbolically it is so believed
that. the earlier part of the married life will be
dominated by the wife. But the last phase of life when
the couple is expected to go in the spiritual quest the
male partner is advised to lead.

WHY MARRIED WOMEN APPLY

VERMILLION?

In Hindu culture married women apply red

vermillion (Sindoor) in the parting of their hair. The
widows don’t apply it. Only the women who have
living husbands display it.
It is very sentimental act. After all the marriage is
the union of two hearts which is a very intimate affair.
It is symbolic expression of love. At the time of the
wedding the groom applies red vermillion to the
parting of the bride’s hair.
It is just like saying ‘Now you are my wife’.
Then on, a young wife applies vermillion to her
forehead to symbolically announce ‘I love you’. Hindu
society is not very vocal. Symbols are used to convey
many sentiments. In the west newly marrieds say ‘I
love you’ umpteen times everyday. They like to be
144 WHY—9
assured of being loved even if they know that they love
each other. Or they keep it saying through kisses.
In the crowded joint families of India it is
unthinkable to do so. So, symbols are used to express
the feelings which is okay for the family censor board.
After initial passion months the women used to apply it
only on special occasions.
Then, at a point of time of our history the events
gave a new role for the vermillion to play.
The women again began to apply vermillion every
day as it became the symbol of protection. When
Muslim forces invaded India they indulged in plunder,
rape and abduction of young women.
No woman’s honour was safe. Later, the locals
discovered that Muslim soldiers used to spare the
married women because Islam forbid touching of
another man’s wife. Most of the invading soldiers were
religious fanatics who abided by the cardinal tenets of
their holy book or the order of their clergy.
Thus, the Hindu women displayed vermillion
prominently to announce their marital status.
Vermillion (Sindoor) became the women’s saviour.
The practice continued when the Englishmen arrived
although they were no married women shy. Still the
women felt safe due to psychological effect.
In independent India in the beginning years
application of vermillion began to lose popularity as
the women felt normally liberated and secure and
forgot its cultural and religious value.
But movies picked up the cause of the vermillion
and made it a part of their stories. Sindoor became

145
symbol of Indian culture and women’s piety. It returned
as a fashion. Then the countrymen suddenly discovered
the value of their own Hindu culture when the western
culture seemed to overtake them.
The scientific facts came to the rescue of sindoor
when they proved that a person or a society needed to
cling to its own culture in self-defence against the
future shocks generated by breakneck technological
advancements made by mankind in the later part of the
20th Century. Or the snowballing future threatened to
toss away the societies like rudderless boats.
As an emotional anchor the people rediscovered
the value of sindoor and its traditional and religious
importance was again accepted. In Hindu culture, red,
colour is symbol of romance and auspicious feeling.
The tilak is basically red, bindi is traditionally red and
the bride wears red dress on the wedding day. The holy
flower lotus is also red. `
Incidentally, roses also used to be red.
But all good things of our culture are marred by
bad elements of the society. They made sindoor an
excuse to torment the unfortunate women who had lost
their husbands. The very word sindoor came to be used
to mentally torture the widows. It is the sad story of our
culture. A knife meant for useful work is more often
than not used to inflict wounds and the makers of the
knives are blamed for it.

WHY SHOULD A WIFE WEAR

MANGALSUTRA?

A Hindu wife always wears a chain called

146
Mangalsutra in her neck. The chain usually has a
locket as well. At the time of the wedding the groom
puts it in his bride’s neck.
It became the most precious and prized possession
for the wife which she cares and guards like her own
life. It virtually becomes the sign of her marital bliss
and the symbol of her husband. With it is around her
neck she emotionally feels close to her man. It is her
emotional security.
The Mangalsutra prescribed is stringed black
pearls and locket with the image of a peacock. The
peacock in Hindu culture is the symbol of love and
dedication. In Indian families husband and wife find
little time to stay together even after marriage. During
the day the wife has to stay clubbed with women folk,
such is the joint family set up. There was a period when
too much togetherness of the couple was socially seen
as an act of shame. The couple only met for a few hours
at night, from midnight to dawn. In many cases
husbands stayed away from homes for earning
livelihood.
Hence, women needed some token of love or
object customised as the symbol of her husband to keep
close to heart for the emotional and psychological
security. It was natural that the women added lots of
their own superstitions to it to make it more intimate.
They became so attached to it that the very thought of
losing it or adamage to it scared them. And itis still so.
But that does not give us any right to call
mangalsutra a symbol of silly feminine superstition.
The very purpose of it is to provide emotional security
to women in the given joint family set up.
147
 WHY MARRIAGE RITUALS?

In Hindu marriage the bride and groom go through

a long drawn rituals spread out over a period of several
weeks. Before wedding the day groom and the bride
are put through a series of rituals in their own homes
after engagement. The bride goes through local
beautification processes. The rituals of the marriage
mainly are—Haldi, Muhurt Neevam,
Vangnishachayam, Manda Deva = Poojanam,
Shishtacharam, Gaurihara Poojan, Var-Vadhu
Nerikshanam, Akshataropanam, Malarpanam,
Madhuparkam, Kanyadanam, Mangalsutra Bandana,
Vivah Havanam, Sapatpadi, Erinidanam, Vadhu
Grihha Praveshanam, Laxmi Poojanam,
Namakaranam, Devakothapanam and __ family
traditions. It is as complex and elaborate as coronation
of a king. Add to it the plethora of local customs of
different regions and different sects.

WHY SO MUCH BOTHER?

Many modern folk might say what is the use of

such ritualistic parade and the wastage of time?
There is logic. The wedding is once a life time
affair. So, it 1sintended to make it amemorable affair as
there is no pre-marriage romance in Indian alliance.
The long drawn rituals compensate for that shortage.
The elaborate weddings emphasise on the couples that
the union is the most solemn event of their lives and
that they must remain true to each other.
It has the psychological effect on the couple and
_ Indian marriage are the most stable in the world. If we
148
take out these rituals the seriousness will evaporate in
the same ratio and the union will be shorn of much of
its sanctity.
And it should be remembered that the life of an
Indian has been a grind, a barren repetition of the days.
Every day is the repeat of yesterday. For both husband
and wife life is so stereotyped that nothing new ever
happens. And the life ends at that note. The marriage is
the only high point of their lives.
So, it deserves to be given a special treatment.
There are several post-marriage rituals, customs,
traditions and rules also.

WHY VANPRASTHA?

Hindu scriptures advise that a person should spend

last part of his life in the forests’in spiritual pursuits.
The order is that when a person’s son raises his own
son, a grand child is born, the hair become grey and the
skin starts to shrivel he/she should bid good bye to the
family life and set out for the forests to make
preparations to meet the Creator.
This order has a great wisdom behind it and today
we are realising it more clearly than ever before.
In ancient times our families had small houses. The
families were poor and the joint family system was the
rule. The homes were ever becoming more and more
crowded. Sending the old folks to forests created space
and they were spared the situation where the oldies
could see painful signs of their being unwanted.
To day we see around us how old folks who are stil]
living with the families are being treated. They are
149
being subjected to abuse and cruelty. They are forced to
live in the dark corners.of the homes uncared for and
completely neglected. In many .cases the greedy
descendents don’t mind even in murdering them in
cold blood to lay their hands on whatever little property
the old folk own.
The homes for the old are full of sad old stories. It
clearly shows how cruel a society can become towards
its old members.
Our sages had devised religious formula of life to
remove the old folks from the society to save them
from the horrors of the harsh realities of the world.
OO)

150
 Chapter-V

LAST RITES—SHRADDHA
IMPIETY PERIODS

The last rites are not only concerned with the body
of the dead but the departed soul as well. For three days
after the death the rites are dedicated to the dead body
and the soul. After that all the rites are directed at the
soul. Hinduism believes that for one year the departed
soul wanders alone which it termed as ‘Ghostate’ (The
state of ghost). The rites have been devised according
to this concept.

151
 WHY ELECTRIC CREMATION IS OKAY?

When the religious orders were set and related

scriptures were worded the electricity had not been
invented. The lightning was the only form of electric
charge the man had knowledge of but that was taken as
natural phenomenon.
No one had even imagined that some day such
electric charge would be under the control of man’s
finger tips and it would take over the several functions
of fire the man had use for. Today electricity 1sthe main
source of light, several heating and burning processes.
The electric crematoriums also came up to
supplement the traditional cremation grounds.
Naturally there is no order on the acceptability of
electronic cremation process, The only clear order is
that after the death a body must, be fully cremated and
turned into ashes. There is no controversy on this point.
The only issue is the fuel to make fire for burning the
body.
Here different fuels are in use to make the fire or
pyre. Some use sandal wood, poor people can afford
ordinary wood only, there are some areas where cow
dung is used, and in emergencies and the wartime
situations even kerosine or petrol is used. So, different
fuels have been used. in different situations and
different locations. |
The basic idea is to turn the dead body into ashes
which is required for other posthumous rites. In the
conventional wood cremation the ashes means a
mixture of the burnt residue the body and the burnt
wood or ashes. The more the inflammability of the fuel
152
the lesser will be its residue and the body ash will be
purer. As the electric burning uses no fuel the residue is
pure body ashes. By the simple logic the electric
cremation gives us most authentic last remains of a
dead body.
90, we can assume that it is more in conformity
with the Shastras. Some die hard orthodox elements
can’t accept this scientific fact. It is a pity.
Electric cremation is ‘cheaper and time saving as
well. In the process we save the trees indirectly. That
credit we earn by doing nothing. We have already
denuded our forest cover which is a grave sin we have
already committed. Electric cremation gives us a
chance to redeem ourselves.
Think of the day when’ only cremation mode
available will be electric one: And added advantage of
electric cremation is that one can collect the ashes on
the same day. In the wood cremation one has to go a day
after to do that job
Let’s hope the wisdom of Shastras will dawn on
the orthodox mind

WHY FLOUR LAMP FOR THE DEAD?

In Hindu custom according to Shastras a lamp

made of kneaded flour is filled with ghee and a wick
put in. It is called ‘Mrit Panati Deepak.’
The lamp is placed at the spot where the dead
person had breathed his last and is lit. The custom 15to
keep it lit for ten days, the period determined by
Shastras when the soul remains tied to this world, or
the memories of it before it is granted passage to the
other world.
153
 The belief is that the lamp helps the dead man’s
soul find its way to the other world. Some even believe
that the traces left in the lamp give clue to the life the
deadman's soul has been destined to take birth into.
There is simple logic also. The flour lamp informs
the visitors that a death has occurred in this family. It is
a clue that the visitor must behave accordingly in tune
with the mourning mood of the family.
During old days a lamp was the only source of the
light. The Panati Deepak tradition kept the room or the
house lighted all the time so that the members of the
family didn’t get scared or imagined ghostly things in
the darkness.
After all death is a very scary thing and 15related to
ghosts and apparitions. `
The members of the family naturally get in haunted
mood. More so in the Indian families where all kinds of
superstitions affect the minds of the simple folk.
Hence, we can say that ‘Mrit Panati Deepak’ custom
has some very logical explanations.

LAMP TRADITION
Lamps with ghee as the fuel is ubiquitous Hindu
tradition. During worship, pooja, rites and celebrations
lit up lamps are sure to be there. The biggest festival of
Hindus is festival of lights, Deepawali.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF

OIL LAMPS?

Hindu philosophy rationalises that the lamp is the

symbol of the human body. Oil is its life force. The

154
wick is the mind or the heart. The flame is the soul and
the light it spreads is spiritual knowledge which leads
to Power Supreme. This symbolic message is the basic
value of a Hindu and he sees the life in that light.

WHY KAPAALKRIYA?

Kapaalkriya is breaking the skull of dead body

while it burns on the funeral pyre. For this purpose a
stick is used to do this.
Shastras order that the stick should be one of the
two that form the stretcher on which the dead body is
carried in the funeral procession to the cremation
ground. The Kapaalkriya act is performed by the eldest
son of the dead person.
Some people disapprove of this as a macabre act.
But according to the religious scholars, the secret of
this act lies in the mantra that is recited before the act
which means— ‘Respected father! Had you remained
celibate instead of becoming my sire you could have
evolved celibacy power that could have enabled your
soul to exit from the skull to and attain moksha. Now I
pledge to it through the act ordered by Shastras.’
The reasoning here is based on vague concept. But
the scientific logic behind'it is more sound that has not
been cited. In certain circumstances the burning fire
can heat up the skull and the expanding gases inside
may cause the skull to explode with unpleasant
consequences. The brain matter in that case may spray
around creating embarrassing situation.
The danger increases if the dead person was
suffering from brain tumour. This custom surely
155
 appears to have been devised after witnessing some
such accidents.
The skull is purposely smashed open to prevent the
possibility of the explosion. The recital of mantra is
merely to give the act a religious touch to save the
‘Kapaalkriya’ doer from getting the bad feeling.

MISCONCEPTIONS
There are a lot of misconceptions and superstitions
that have no logic or reasoning behind them in respect
_of lending a shoulder to funeral carriage, like not doing
it, if one’s father is alive or wife 15pregnant, or wife is
in her monthly period or if one is engaged for marriage
etc. These beliefs are products of some idle minds.
There is not such order in Shastras.

WHY OBSERVE DASWAN (TENTH DAY)?

There is a Shastras order that the tenth day of death
be specially observed as Daswan. Nine days are
considered as Navshradha, a period when it is believed
that the dead man’s soul remains bound to his previous
earthly life. It tries to understand the world of the after
life. It is believed that on the ninth day it understands
the norms to enter into the after life phase.
On the tenth day lumps are made symbolising the
gods and they are worshiped. A special lump is made
for the touch of crow. The logic behind it is not yet
revealed. May be, the crow is related to some occult
practices, so, it may symbolise some aspect of it. On the
12111day lumps are made on the river bank to represent
ancestors. A larger lump representing the dead person
156
is prepared and small parts from it is added to the other
lumps. It is symbolic act of formally accepting the dead
one as an ancestor.
WHY ONE YEAR MOURNING PERIOD?

A family mourns for its dead members for one year

because it is believed that for that period the soul
remains in ghost state. The logic appears to be that the
sages thought a dead man’s memories linger on for that
span of time. As a result the members of the family are
not in right frame of mind, at least not all of them.
Hence, marriages and celebrations are forbidden in the
family for that period. It also is a way of paying tribute
to the departed one

WHY SHRADDHAS OF DEAD ONES?

One of most controversial custom of Hinduism is

Shraddhas, the rituals done every year in the names of
the dead ancestors of the family. Some sarcastic people
might scoff at it and make fun of the ritual. But we must
be a little generous and say that it is religious way of
paying tributes to the departed members of the family.
Our culture teaches respect to the elders. A great
stress is laid on the reverence to seniors of the family.
This cardinal principle rules the families at cultural
level. This value infact is seeded in the society by
religion itself because it was the architect of ethical
codes, customs and traditions. At religious level the
sages extended this reverence of the elders to even the
dead ancestors.
It was the psychological fall out of the firm Hindu
157
belief in rebirths. Most of the mythological stories of
the characters gave accounts of the happenings of their
previous births. For them a person or a character was
compilation of several biographies of lives running
back into past. They took ancestors of a person as
living entities in soul form who were integral parts of
the living person.
By ordering shraddhas they wanted the people to
treat their ancestors in the same light. At least for once
a year a Hindu was obliged to recognise his ancestors
as living entities through the rites of the shraddha.
Through this rite a person revives the memories of
his ancestors and tries to connect to them emotionally
to draw inspiration from them and also remember the
promises made to them or what their expectations were
of him.
After all how many efforts are going on all over the
world to find a way to contact the souls of dead
persons? There are planechet methods and all kinds of
the mediums who claim to possess the powers to help
one contact the dead near and dear ones.
Hinduism understood the psychological urges of
people to contact their dead ancestors. So, it devised a
simple rite to satisfy that urge religiously without
resorting to hoax games. |
There might be some false additions, to the
original customs, made by the vested interests but such
insertions can be detected as they carry the ring of
artificialness and exploitative intent.

WHY SHRADDHA ON AMAVASYAS?

Shraddhas are as a rule performed only on

458
moonless night. There is a simple common sense in it
because the rite is for dealing with the spirits. The
darkness is the domain of the spirits. The light is the
enemy of the spirits and the para world entities.
Ashwin month’s descending noon phase is
considered Pitripaksha when the ancestors can be paid
tribute to every day of the fortnight. It is considered to
be the fortnight which is like a festival of the spirits of
the dead people. 3

WHY THE RITUALS?

It should be understood that many rituals are

merely devised for giving the honour to a specific
process, the occasion or the intent. It provides one with
a specimen procedure to follow. The procedures create
a system and the system is what human beings feel at
home with and gain confidence from.
A priest, preferably the family priest performs
shraddha for his client. Mantra recital ritual follows
after putting together the required ingredients. The
priest is fed. At the pilgrim centre a professional
Brahmin performs the rituals and a number of
Brahmins are fed. It is claimed that the food fed to the
Brahmins reaches the dead ancestors.
It is too simplistic an explanation that does not
convince anyone because it is devised by ill educated
greedy priests who have little qualification and
intelligence to reveal the symbolic meaning.
For a person who is getting shraddha performed
for his ancestors will be naturally in a spiritual mood.
He does not view things in material ways if he is true to
159
the ritual. He feeds the Brahmins in the spirit that he is
feeding his ancestors whose spirits are manifest in
those Brahmins. The contented eating of the Brahmins
in just like his forefathers showing satisfactions.
In Brahmin/Brahmins he virtually imagines his
ancestors partaking food offered by him. To him the
belching of the fed priest is the thanks from his
ancestors.
After all this world is a mind game. In shraddha
the religion is accepting this fact.

WHY OFFER WATER TO SUN?

During the shraddha ritual if one is at a pilgrim

centre performing it he is made to stand in the holy
river at knee deep level and offer water to Sun-god by
pouring it from a bowl held at the level of his bent
forehead. In domestic shraddha the priest asks his
client to pour water facing the sun.
By the Brahmins and the priests of shallow
knowledge it is explained that by doing so the offered
water will reach to his dead ancestors. It was a brazen
explanation. The ignorant could accept it meekly. But
how would educated and thinking persons take it?
It became a big joke. The entire shraddha rite came
under fire and utter ridicule. The people began to lose
faith in the ritual and it was labeled as yet another fraud
of the religion. The priests had no plausible rebuttal.
They were too unscientific and too outdated to cope
with the cynical problem
But the practice of offering water to the sun has a
very authentic logic.
160 WHY——10
 A man offering water to sun invokes the spirits of
his seven generations gone by. The water being poured
falls down in a twisting stream which at places gains
the properties of a prism and splits the sun rays into
seven colours.
Through this act the shraddha doer invokes the
spirits of his ancestors of seven generations
symbolically saying that he is the product of the
cumulative effect of the deeds done by them during
their life times.
And the sun that contributes the rays in this effort
is the father of them all being the life energy of all the
living creatures of the earth.
But why seven generations only? Why not more?
Hindu philosophy perhaps here uses mathematical
logic. In the decimal system after decimal point we take
cognizance of only seven digits. After that the digit’s
calculative value is so reduced that it does not matter.
Even in practical life expression seven generations are
quoted. In heated exchanges the quarrelling parties
curse seven generations of each other.
Thus, figure of speech too accepts the seven
generation theory that has the mathematical logic.
In the shraddha performance the fees and goodies
prescribed for the Brahmin priests is debatable because
here comes the greed and exploitative element our
customs or rites suffer from. The possibilities of false
insertions in the order can not be ruled out.
If due to shortage of money one is not able to
perform shraddha there is an alternate route provided
by the Shastras. In such helpless situation the order is
161 WHY—11
to come out of the house and say following prayer
facing south— ‘Na May Asti Vitam Na Dhanam Na
Chanyat Shraddhopyog Swapivrita Na = Toasmi,
Triptyantuphaktya Pitran Mayaite Bhujo Krito
Vartasmi Marutasya. ’
Meaning : ‘I have no money. Nor can I afford the
rite material. But with true dedication I pay obeisance
to my forefathers. Let my ancestors be pleased with my
respect to them. So, I spread my arms sky wards.’
Raise your hands upwards flailing them to express
helplessness. Shake you head in regret. It is the
sentiment and the honest thought that really matters,
and not the formal rituals. After all you are the dear one
of those who you are trying to connect with.
Shastra also have orders on various types of
shraddhas namely Bharani Shraddha, Mahalaya
Shraddha, Avidhwa Navami Shraddha and Apghati
Shraddha.

FOR MISSING PERSONS

` Ifa person has gone missing what to do about his

last rites and shraddha?
Shastras order that in case of a missing person his
return should be awaited for 12 years. This ruling is in
case of the natural calamities. After twelve years the
last rites may be performed using a mud lump to
represent the missing person. After one year from that
point shraddha may be regularly performed.

WHY IMPURITY PERIODS—ASHAUCH?

Hindu Shastras have defined certain conditions

162
where a person can be in the state of impurity
physically, mentally, psychologically, hygeinically or
spiritually where contact with other persons or
partaking of food or drinks or dealing with others
should be avoided. A proper clean up or purification is
required to return to the normal state of life.
Shastras describe such periods or states as
Ashauch which literally means ‘uncleart’.
Eight major impurity periods are—1. Before bath,
2. After answering nature’s call, 3. After sex, 4. After
hair cut, 5. After contacting a person in impure state,
6. After the maternity, 7. After attending a funeral or
death of a relative, 8. After falling in menstruation
period in case of awoman.
A quick look reveals that above states have been
determined as impure because of hygienic reasons or
psychological considerations.
After answering the nature’s call, hair cut, sex and
after attending a funeral one naturally feels some
uncleanliness and the tendency is to take a bath or a
shower. For the same reason the toilets have elaborate
washing facilities
The debate arises over the periods Shastras
determine for a person to be in untouchable state when
he is not permitted to do worship, go to temple or do
cooking or get into physical contact with others.

WHY MATERNITY UNTOUCHABILITY?

If a women gives birth to a child the order is that

the members of her family become unfit to attend
weddings, yajnas or other auspicious occasion
163
celebrations. Different periods of untouchability are
prescribed for births of boy baby or girl baby.

WHAT IS THE LOGIC BEHIND THIS?

Apparently the reason appears to be the protection

of the mother and the new born. Both of them are in a
very tender state of physical health. The mother has a
weakened immune systems and defence mechanisms
after going through the ordeal of labour pains. The
newborn is also a very tender whose immune systems
are yet to be fully awakened. Both are prone to
contracting viral diseases or infections.
Her relatives are naturally going to touch the baby
and the mother when they will come to visit them. The
newborn is going to be fondled by all the members of
the family.
If any member of the family is carrying infectious
virus it does not pose big danger because he or she is
already in the family and 15in contact with the mother
for a long time. So, the mother’s system is already
familiar with that virus and we can assume that
antibodies to that are already there on guard in the
mother’s body.
The danger would arise when unfamiliar virus
arrives and infects the mother or the baby.
Perhaps to avoid that this untouchability order has
been devised. Through this custom the member of the
family and the relatives of the mother and the child are
being quarantined to safeguard them.
The Hindu sages may not have thought it in the
medical terminology as we have done here. They must
164
have some vague idea and seen things happen to gain
them experience to work in the right precautionary
direction.

WHY DEATH UNTOUCHABILITY?

Similarly a ten day untouchability period is

prescribed for persons in whose family a death has
occurred. Here simple reasoning is at work. The person
could have died of some viral disease and the family
members may be carrying some viruses. So, they are
put in untouchability period for the safety of the others.
There is one more logic to justify it. Where death
occurs the numbers of that family will be in the
mourning and some of them are likely to be in shocked
state of grief. In such a state one does not know what he
or she is doing or touching or eating. A person is in an
unhealthy frame of mind. Making such a person
untouchable is a precautionary measure.

WHY WOMEN IN PERIODS ARE

UNTOUCHABLE?

Menstruation is a very feminine biological

reaction or body functioning. It awakens her gender
sense and charges her with femininity. She is no more
a person but a woman. Her feminine feelings keep
swathing her.
Naturally she is in a delicate frame of mind and
touchy. She can be easily provoked or gets irritated.
Shastra has ordered that awoman in her periods should
not cook food. This ruling provides her a much needed
relief from work. Otherwise working in the kitchen is a
165
daily grind for an Indian woman. It is like Shastras
granted her ‘Menstruation leave’ on the lines of the
modern ‘Maternity leave’.
Her quarantine is obviously to keep her away from
the crowds and celebrations where she is likely to come
into contact with the members of the opposite sex
which might not be healthy with her gender sense on
the full alert.

FINAL WORDS

It all goes to prove that the orders of our Shastras

have sound reasoning and scientific logic in most of the
cases. A careful analysis reveals ever newer angles of
facts which make perfect sense.
But it requires to be done with caution.
Justifying every order on some pretext or the other
would be stretching things too far. Several Vedic
reformist movements committed that mistake and
eventually lost all credibility and the following.
Ultimately they began to sound like orthodox priests
playing the same old beaten tune on an imported
electric guitar.
We only selected items which to us made sense in
a very natural way without being forced to invent
scientific fantasies in the name of scientific logic and
reason.
The reader would agree that we have made an
honest effort in our rationalisation of our customs,
traditions and rituals without resorting to cultural,
racial and religious chauvinism.
OU
166
 APPENDIX

WHY WATER IS OFFERED TO SUN?

In the chapter dealing with Sharddhas we have

already disclosed how water offered by pouring to sun
gets split in seven colours due to chance prism effect. It
symbolises the seven preceding generations or some
other seven fold aspect of life.
On mythical format the sun is one of the five prime
deities. Sun is the Lord of the planets. It is the main
source of life energy on the earth. In that sense the Sun
is the Father Supreme of all the living creatures and the
plants on earth.
In Hindu culture offering water is symbolic gesture
of showing extreme reverence. It balances the life
energies of biological systems.
Shastras rule that while offering water all the
names of the sun must be pronounced as prescribed
through the respective mantra. `
The water must be offered to the sun by pouring it
down from the forehead height from a copper bowl
facing the sun which means eastwards in the morning
and westwards in the evening. The prism effect is the
symbolic acceptance of the fact that the sunlight is
what that fills all colours in our lives. Some even
believe that the sun rays destroy harmful germs or
bacteria on a person.
167
 Ayurveda believes that offering water to the sun
improves the eyesight because the myth is that the Sun
is the god of eyes or eyesight.
WHY GANGA WATER IS SACRED?

According to the Puranic belief Ganga is born out

of the toe of Lord Vishnu, so, it is the feet-nectar of the
Lord. Shastras rule thus—
Akaal Mrityu harnam, Sarvavyadhi Vinashanam,
Vishnocharnodakam peetwa Punarjanma na Labhyate
Meaning : It keeps untimely death away, it
destroys all diseases, one who drinks this feet-nectar of
Vishnu attains Nirvana.
According to the mythology King Bhagiratha had
brought Ganga down to serve the earth from the
heavens. The priests hold the belief that the Ganga
water is incontaminable. Keep Ganga water in a bottle
for any length of time and it won’t grow germs or
worms. The reasoning is that in its course down the
hills Ganga gets treated with immunising minerals and
herbs. So, it becomes contamination-proof body of
water.
But this claim has not been able to get the
certification of the scientists as a fact. Many sceptic
scientists even mock at the claim. But no one can deny
the fact that Ganga is revered as no other river in the
world is. Even as a river what it gives to Indian people
in respect of the water needs for the daily life and the
agriculture is nothing short of a divine miracle.

WHY KALASHA IS SIGN OF GOOD?

Varuna, the water-god and Agni, the fire-god are

168
considered to be witness-deities whose presence in the
solemn religious ceremonies are required as a must.
The symbol of Varuna is a pitcher or Kalasha (Grail or
flaggon), the container for water. A clay pitcher is the
poor man’s grail.
The clay pitcher reminds one of Krishna’s divine
pranks of butter stealing or pelting stones at the
pitchers of milkmaids. Vishnu as Mohini had
distributed the divine nectar’among gods and demons
from a divine flaggon. And Kalasha reminds one of the
steeple of temples.
Hence, the very sight of Kalasha is considered by
Shastras as rewarding as the sighting of a deity. While
worshiping Kalasha, the priest recites a mantra and
touches various points of Kalasha. The mantra
announces how various parts of Kalasha represent
various god powers, energies, holy things and divine
knowledges.
Note : As aresult of the churning of the seas by the
gods and demons, a grail (Kalasha) full of divine
nectar had emerged from the waters as the prime prize
of the endeavour.

WHY SHANI IDOL IS OINTED WITH OIL?

Astrology shastras prescribe ointing of Shani idol

made of iron with oil (Mustard) to pacify the fierce
deity symbolised by the planet Saturn.
The mythical story—Shani (Saturn) god’s harmful
spell was to begin over Hanumana when the latter was
busy in the construction of the stone bridge over the sea
to take across the monkey army of Lord Rama to
169
Lanka, the island kingdom of Ravana, the villain of
Ramayana. There always was the danger of the demons
damaging the bridge. So, the charge of the safety of the
bridge was given to the mighty Hanumana. Shani knew
the incredible physical and the para-powers of
Hanumana.
He explained to Hanumana how he would have to
cast a bad spell on the latter as his duty in accordance
with the rules of the planetary configurations set by the
nature.
Hanumana pleaded that he did not want to go
against the laws of the nature but needed a short waiver
to enable him to see through safely the construction of
the bridge to dedicate it in the service of Lord Rama.
Shani rejected the request for the waiver.
So, Shani in the form of a bad spell possessed
Hanumana. Hanumana retaliated by banging his body
against the rocky mountains. It hurt Shani as he was in
possession of the body of Hanumana.
To save himself from any further hurt he
apologized to Hanumana and promised that he would
never again trouble any devotee of Rama. Hanumana
relented and gave Shani mustard oil for application as
a balm on his beaten and bruised body.
It helped and Shani felt relief from pain. It started
the custom of offering oil to Shani god..
There is a scientifie explanation to it as well. Shani
idols are made of iron as per the order of Shastra. Iron
is very prone to corrosion by rusting. But the
application of oil protects it by serving as a barrier
against water or moisture which sets off the rusting
170
process in iron. It was, after all, the Original paint to
prevent the corrosion.

WHY RED VERMILLION FOR HANUMANA?

Red is the sign of the heated state of a ferrous

metal. It is the symbol of live energy and ire. According
to Hindu mythological belief, Mangala (Mars) is the
commander-in-chief of god army. And Mars is also
known as the red planet. So, by this connection also red
is the symbol of power or force or valour.
Hanumana is painted red with vermillion as he is
the embodiment of power and valour. Women also
apply red vermillion in the parting of their hair as a
tribute of their husbands. By tradition for a woman her
husband is the symbol of power and the valour of a
warrior. For the same reason a groom sets out to his
bride on a horse in warrior dress for the wedding
ceremony.
Mythological story is that once while applying
vermillion Sita explained to Hanumana that it was the
symbolic act to manifest her devotion to her husband
Lord Rama. Hanumana thought over it and went to
Lord Rama’s court with his body painted red with
vermillion. He wanted to convey that his entire self was
nothing but devotion to Lord Rama.
Sita explained this sentiment to Lord Rama who
was at first puzzled.
Thus, application of red vermillion to Hanumana
became a symbolic custom started off by that story.

WHY FIVE GREEN PILLARS IN A WEDDING?

Five green pillars are installed on a wedding altar

171
 Hindu marriage ceremony. Five is the most holy figure
in Hindu religion. We are the products of the five
elements. Five gods are prescribed for daily worship
Five things make Panchamrita, the holy nectar. Five
members make Panchayata etc. Wedding pillars are
also in confirmity to that five rule.
The green pillars symbolise nature’s colour of life
and bloom. The marriage is supposed to bloom and
prosper. An evergreen bliss is wished for symbolically.
It is made more expressive by decorating the pillars
profusely with green leaves and fruits.
The union is blessed to fructify.
As pillars banana plant and bamboo, both are
accepted. Banana fructifies when it 15transplanted just
as the bride.is transplanted in another family to
maritally fructify. Bamboo prospers when it stays
rooted at one place just like the groom.
The green ambiance is the symbolic presence of
the nature because a marriage is itself an act to meet the
demand of the very basic nature of life.

WHY MUNDANA?

On several occasions Hindus ceremoniously clean

shave heads. At a certain age—a child goes through
mundan (clean shaving of the head) ceremony—
Priests and monks are ordered to have clean shaved
heads. In older times all the students were required to
have clean shaven heads.
So was in the case of the celebates.
In case of the death in a family the male members
are ordered by shastra to shave off their heads. While

172
becoming ascetics the hair is shorn off. So is in the case
of one setting out on Vanprastha ashram.
In some temples even women shave off their hair
to offer it to the deity.
It is common sight at Tirupati Balaji temple. It is
called ‘Beauty offering.’
In Bengal windows keep clean shaven heads. It is
for not remaining femininely beautiful.
In ancient times cleaning hair was a problem. Then
soaps or shampoos had not been invented. The hair
easily got messy or matty in absence of proper cleaning
aids. Hence, in bygone era getting rid of hair was the
easiest way to keep clean.

WHY MOON WORSHIP ON KARVA CHAUTH?

On Karva Chauth day the women keep fast and at

moon rise time go to the roof to worship the moon for
the long life of their husbands. The same day is
celebrated as Lord Shiva Family worship. Shiva’s wife
goddess Parvati is considered to be the symbol of
eternal marital bliss. In every incarnation she gets
married to Shiva. Through moon, the wives invoke
Parvati to bless them also the same marital bliss she
herself enjoys. Moon is symbolically pictured as the
adornment of Lord Shiva’s hair.
The moon also is the god of medicines which
indirectly means the blesser of the health and

consequently the long life.

one)
 Set of
SmallSize
ENGLISH
GENERAL BOOKS

(1 Home Gardening 50.00

(1 101 Feng Shui Tips 50.00
O 101 Vastu Tips 50.00
(1 Dadi Maa's Home Remedies 50.00
(1 Pregnancy & Child Care 40.00
O Baby Health & Child Care 40.00
(1 All About Yoga 40.00
(1 Diabetes Cause & Cure 40.00
(1 Hypertension Cause & Cure 40.00
(1 Shed Your Weight 40.00
(1 How 10 Increase Your Height 40.00
O How to Increase Sex Power 40.00

SET OF SMALL ENGLISH JOKE BOOKS

(1 Juicy Joke Book (Surendra Mohan Pathak) 50.00

O Midnight Jokes 30.00
(1 Party Jokes 30.00
(1 Naughty Jokes 30.00
[1 Spicy Jokes 30.00
O Tickling Jokes 30.00
(1 Superhit Jokes 30.00
(1 Non-Veg Jokes –@ 30.00
(1 International Jokes 30.00
(1 SMS Jokes 30.00
Internet Jokes 30.00

MANOJPUBLICATIONS
761, Main Road Burari, Delhi-110084.
Ph. No. : 27611116; 27611349 Fax: 27611546
 A Treasure
of Stories
Specially for
CHILDREN
BigSize
Illustrated
(1 101 Stories from Panchatantra 80.00
(1 Akbar Birbal Stories 80.00
_O The Arabian Nights 80.00
(1 101 Stories of Grand Mother 80.00
(1 Vikram Betal 80.00
& 101 Stories of Grandpa Stories are not 80.00
Aesop's Stories . 80.00
(1 [81818 Tales ied 1 80.00
(1 Ramayana ut are also fu 80.00
(1 Mahabharata of moral and 80.00
71 Fair Fair Fairy Tales social values 80.00
(1 Best Stories for Children 80.00
(1 Selected Stories from The Holy Bible 80.00
(1 Witty Tenali Rama 80.00
(1 Chandamama Stories 80.00
(1 The World's Most Popular Folk Tales 80.00
1 Hillariously Funny Mulla Nasrudin 80.00
(1 Hitopadesh 80.00
(1 Shekhchilli 80.00
(1 Ghost Stories 80.00
•° World Famous Adventure Stories 80.00
0 Stories of Talisman 80.00
0 Horror Stories 80.00
01 Jungle Stories 80.00
© Sighansana 8811151 80.00

teense,
PUBLI
’ð 761, Main
Ph. No. : 27611116,
Road Burari,

- Mobile
27611349
: 9868112194
Delhi-110084.
Fax : 27611546
 Great Stories 70
in Simple Shivaji se:
English .
Speciallyfor
CHILDREN
With Colour
Illustrations

Fairy Tales
Jataka Tales
Stories of Panchatantra

00
22
(11
Moral Stories of Panchatantra
Inspiring Stories of Panchatantra
Intresting Stories from Panchatantra
Stories of Akbar-Birbal
The Great Akbarandthe WiseBirbal
WittyTalesofAkbar-Birbal
TicklingTalesofAkbar-Birbal
Grandmother’sStories
Stories of Arabian Nights
Vikram Betal Stories
Aesop’s Stories
Witty Tenalirama
Moral Stories of Grandpa
33 Moral Stories
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
The Legend of Bhagat Singh
Shree Krishna Leela
Lord Ganesha
Netaji SubhashChandraBose
Chhatrapati Shivaji
Chandrashekhar Azad
Veer Hanuman
Shiv Parvati
Lava Kusha
Witty Stories of Mulla Nasruddin
Entertaining Stories of Shekh Chilli

MANOJ PUBLICATIONS
761, Main Road Burari, Delhi-110084.
Ph. : 27611116, 27611349 Fax : 27611546
Mobile : 9868112194
 Why ?
HINDU CUSTOMS, RITUALS AND RITES
| 1111-9 - ’×à/111 ~1-1-11

Why has marriage mandapam

five green pillars? “€
Why is urn a sign of good?
Why is cow milk sacred?
Why does Laxmi press the
feet of Lord Vishnu?
Why is tenth day of the d |–P
^–@
=+
person specially marked&
Why Shani is offered Oils
| / |, 3–yd–ig–id–if Q
W U
,–Il–
--–@,8–id–ik–Im--
reside in stones?
| (|, 8–id
–yj.,–Id–Id*8 - 31–@
1 |
–Bð
(1, 81 °(claw lac Meliiclactemm
CoM Grol:Ira
Why 15 Peepal tree worth a worship?
_ Why oil lamp is lit at prayers?

|| || –P