Scientific Meanings Behind Hinduism Customs

Being a Hindu my whole life, rather than just following the customs blindly, I took some initiative to find the meanings behind these customs. And to my surprise, I found many, many magical meanings which really caught me off guard. Hinduism has many stages in its life span on this earth, most common is the pre-vedic times, vedic times and post vedic cum current Hinduism.

The pre-vedic times simply means the worship of Lord Pasupathi, or known as Lord Shiva now in his formless form, Linggam and the worship of Mother Goddess along with Him. You can safely say pre-vedic times was a hardcore Monotheism religion. They did not worship anything else but Lord Pasupathi and Mother Goddess as the ONE God, which both of them are the one and same power, but having their counterpart sex as a completion of the God they recognize as One.

The Vedic religion saw the comings of the Gods like Agni, Indira, Varuna, etc etc and the detailed scriptures known as Vedas. They did not believed in creating temples for the deities and only perform Yagna/Yajna fully. Yajna simply means performing prayers with the presence of fire and 'sacrificing' all kinds of ingredients inside the burning fire. Its a way to offer the Gods their offerings since fire is believed to be the medium that reaches Gods fastest because of its purity which doesn't have any other elements mixed in.

The Post-Vedic, or known as today's Hinduism, has many Gods and Goddess with many new scriptures and branches like Shaivism (worships Lord Shiva has the ONLY ONE God), Vaishnavism (worships Lord Vishnu and his avatars), Sakthism (a more detailed branch of Mother Goddess worships), Ganapathayam, etc etc.

Though the religion has faced many evolving stages, the customs and culture stays pretty much the same. The Vedic times has contributed many customs and cultures to the Indians in India and thus brought many richness in Indians culture.

Lets take the custom of sprinkling turmeric mixed water around the house before prayers and after. Its known that turmeric has antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities. Ofcource, its helps more if its being consumed, but sprinkling it around the house helps prevent from bacteria to spread around. Its been widely used in Indian houses whom are pious. This practice is often said absurd because sprinkling turmeric water is said to be uncivilized, but apparently the houses whose houses have turmeric water sprinkled has less news on the people inside the house falling ill.

Another popular custom among the villagers in rural area is pasting cow dun on walls, outside their house. Yes, its disgusted and ridiculed by many, but did you know, that this cow dung is absolutely rich in minerals and a great factor for antibiotic? Sticking this around their house helped prevent various diseases/viruses from attacking the people in the house. Its funny that things like this is the best way to help us from getting infected and what not.

Another cow-related custom is the cow urine. Some of them sprinkle cow urine around the house as well. In ayurveda it is said, "gavyam pavitram ca rasayanam ca pathyam ca hrdyam balam buddhi syata, aayuh pradam rakt vikar hari tridosh hridrog vishapaham syata". It simply means that the cow urine panchgavya is great elixir, proper diet, pleasing to heart, giver of mental and physical strength, enhances longevity. It balances bile, mucous and airs and a remover of heart diseases and effect of poison. It is being recommended by some doctors to some heart patients that they should consume cow urine for health purposes. Well, sprinkling it around the house promises more or less the same, that it has health significance.

And lately, i heard that burning some oil lamps in temple, some may lit ghee lamp, some gingerly oil lamp and such, burning those lamps actually will generate some positive energy up and touches your body, it gives good vibes and such. More than what it should benefits your prayers, its more beneficial for your own self, and body.

To the people who visit Lord Vishnu's temple, they should be aware about the 'thulasi theertham' that is given to the devotees after each prayers for the Lord. The priest will give each devotee a spoonful of basil water for us to consume. To those who are good in scientific knowledge, you should know that array of flavonoids exist in basil, which help to protect cells and chromosomes from damage. Studies have shown that two of these flavonoids in particular, orientin and vicenin, are useful in protecting cell structures and chromosomes from damage by radiation and oxygen. And not to mention, recent studies has showed that basil tree/leaves should be consumed in order to keep our immune system strong to help prevent the H1N1 disease.

Well, these are some of the things I felt I should share, and I will be back with more information regarding this topic. Hinduism is not just an ancient religion, but also a scientific religion.