Hi,
When we go to temple we always apply tilak on forehead. There has to be a reason behind it. In Hinduism, every aspect we follow has a reason behind it.
I read a lot of books and found out the reason we apply the tilak on forehead and not anywhere else is because out soul (Aatma) resides there on the forehead between 2 eyes also called "Brikuti" in hindi. And even when yogis meditate, they concentrate there on the forehead. When we know who we are i.e. self realization, we have the knowledge of self ie who we are, where do we come from, whats our relationship with God. Since knowledge is power, there we become powerful as after self realization we know the truth and wont get afftected by imputirties or vices in the world. We conquer our mind by recognizing that we are souls not this body and we have just taken this body to play our part in this world (and we will leave and take another body), so we become fearless from death as I as a soul is imperishable, a being of light which signifies peace, purity, bliss, happiness. The reason the color of tilak is red is because it the color or life and color of power (the knowledge about self and God).
Please let me know what do you think?
If you want more information, let me know and I can refer you some books and places to visit.
There is a scientific reason for any action in Hinduism. For eg: people who go to Sabarimala in Kerala wear Black Dhotis(Mundu), the reason is that black color absorbs heat and hence whenever they take a bath in the pamba or any other place, they can dry their clothes very fast. The same way we wear the Vibhuti also called the Holy Ash. This was earlier made from the rice husk in olden days. In christianity it has a significance as it tells us the concept of \"Ashes to Ashes - Dust to Dust\". We are all in passing during this birth and hence whatever we think we are in terms of wealth, power and ego it means nothing as we have to turn into dust one fine day. The other scientific reason is that in olden days, people used to take bath in the local river or pond and when they apply to the past of the Vibhuti and water on their forehead it acts as a stiffenner to our forehead when the water drys away. This way it clears our sinus and clears our system of the phelgm and others to clear our cold.
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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....
"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"
Hi SK
Not doubting or counteracting on your post. But time to time, I had been forced to follow some of the rites and rituals against my wishes.
All the rites/rituals that we follow had its origin in early vedic age - maybe 2500-3000 years before. What is the significance of such practises in modern age? Why can't we abandon those practises?
If any of Hindu practises had any scientific basis, their relevance still needs to be questioned in modern world when technology has advanced so far.
I refuse to follow any of the religious practises blindly, unless I am explained the significance of the practise. May be, being born and brought up in a Brahmin family, I have been forced to do many things against my wishes, and hence it has made me sort of agnostic. I do believe in God, but there are many aspects of Hindu rituals that I do not agree with.
Meghal
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 12-06-06 10:43:26
Quote:
Originally posted by meghal
I refuse to follow any of the religious practises blindly, unless I am explained the significance of the practise. May be, being born and brought up in a Brahmin family, I have been forced to do many things against my wishes, and hence it has made me sort of agnostic. I do believe in God, but there are many aspects of Hindu rituals that I do not agree with.
Meghal
Holy cow (no pun intended) !!! Are you my evil twin ? I think the same way too...and describe myself as Agnostic.
Again, my post is not meant to offend or discredit the earlier posts as I respect other's beliefs, whatever they might be.
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Dimple2001
Quote:
Originally posted by meghal
Hi SK
Not doubting or counteracting on your post. But time to time, I had been forced to follow some of the rites and rituals against my wishes.
All the rites/rituals that we follow had its origin in early vedic age - maybe 2500-3000 years before. What is the significance of such practises in modern age? Why can't we abandon those practises?
If any of Hindu practises had any scientific basis, their relevance still needs to be questioned in modern world when technology has advanced so far.
I refuse to follow any of the religious practises blindly, unless I am explained the significance of the practise. May be, being born and brought up in a Brahmin family, I have been forced to do many things against my wishes, and hence it has made me sort of agnostic. I do believe in God, but there are many aspects of Hindu rituals that I do not agree with.
Meghal
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I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible.
But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.
Location: Private location
Posted on: 12-06-06 11:12:43
Quote:
Originally posted by meghal
Hi SK
Not doubting or counteracting on your post. But time to time, I had been forced to follow some of the rites and rituals against my wishes.
All the rites/rituals that we follow had its origin in early vedic age - maybe 2500-3000 years before. What is the significance of such practises in modern age? Why can't we abandon those practises?
If any of Hindu practises had any scientific basis, their relevance still needs to be questioned in modern world when technology has advanced so far.
I refuse to follow any of the religious practises blindly, unless I am explained the significance of the practise. May be, being born and brought up in a Brahmin family, I have been forced to do many things against my wishes, and hence it has made me sort of agnostic. I do believe in God, but there are many aspects of Hindu rituals that I do not agree with.
Meghal
Hi Meghal,
I agree with your statement somewhat...I was wondering, what other hindu traditions/rituals do you not agree with? Just interested as maybe someone
can help to explain why they do that and what they mean.
I do not mean to digress, but apart from some rituals of hinduism that are a little defunct in todays society, the other thing that really gets me is superstitions and old mother's tales etc. For eg, all my entire life I have sneezed just like every other human on this planet. However...two days before my marriage, my mother decides to enlighten me with some "knowledge"....which is "try not to sneeze only once, it is considered bad luck...try to at least sneeze twice...or pretend to" COME ON!!!! All of a sudden I had to become aware of my sneezing habits...you know, as if life wasn't stressful enough!!
Oh and some others that I know of:
Do not do anything that is considered good on a Tuesday as it may go wrong.
If you are a girl and have brothers, do not cut your hair on a Wednesday.
Don't cut your nails, or sweep the floor or go out into the garden (back yard) at night or late evening.
Don't eat meat on Tuesdays.
Blah, blah, blah....
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Bijou Bazaar
http://bijoubazaar22.googlepages.com
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 12-06-06 11:23:32
Quote:
Originally posted by Pink Panther
Don't cut your nails, or sweep the floor
In olden days before electricity was found, the night was not well illuminated indoors. So if you cut your nails when the light was dim , there was chance that you might hurt your fingers/ feet with the sharp edge. so that is why elders told us against cutting nails in the evening. Also in the evening under dim light, if you sweep the house, you have a chance of sweeping out valuable stuff (like gold / silver coin). So the elders advised us against this too.
just common sense ideas proposed by the elders.
TK A
Sidenote : In the gulf, the head gear was found to protect the nomads ears in the desert from sand entering their ear during sandstorm. Now you will find them in the head gear even in the Air conditioned offices. How foolish is that.
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