Hinduism - General
Om-Shanti: Studie en Academie Materiaal
Hinduism - General
Om-Shanti: - Studie en Academie Materiaal
HINDUISM - GENERAL - Deel 1 - 01
5 Hindu Philosophies that makes us
Responsible Towards the Environment
Hindu teachings have always been very caring towards the mother nature. Hindu texts contain numerous references to the worship of the divine in nature in it the Vedas. Hindu dharma lays as high emphasis on environmental ethics. Since, the earliest times of The Mahabharata, Ramayana, Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas and Smriti, all of them contain the earliest messages for the preservation of the environment, loving the nature and ecological balance. Hindus have never considered nature or Earth a hostile element to be conquered or dominated. Hindu teach to live in harmony with nature and recognize that divinity prevails in all elements, including plants and animals.The rishis of the past have always had a great respect for nature. Millions of Hindus recite Sanskrit mantras daily to revere their rivers, mountains, trees, animals and the earth. Ecology is an inherent part of a spiritual world view in Hindu religion. Today’s environmental crisis demands a spiritual response. An awareness of our actions and a rise in the human consciousness, that is born out of inner commitment is very much needed today. Hence, here are some of the saying mentioning about Environmental ethics and relation from Hindu texts that can help us to be more aware of our relation and responsibility towards the environment.
01. Ishavasyam Idam Sarvam
“Ishavasyam idam sarvam” means, Whatever there is in this world, it is covered and filled with Narayana. Hindu texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavad Purana, contain many references to the omnipresence of the supreme divinity, including its presence throughout and within nature. Thus, Hindus worship and accept the presence of God in nature, in the environment in every form.
02. Bhoomi Devi - Mother Earth
Hindus consider Earth as a mother, seemingly as all our mothers, even our mother Earth deserves our respect, love, and care. In fact, many Hindus touch the floor before getting out of bed every morning and ask the Devi to forgive them for trampling on her body. Many Hindu rituals recognize that human beings benefit from the earth, and offer gratitude and protection in response.
Atharva Veda, states “Bhumi Devi” (Mother Earth), “May whatever I dig from you grow back again quickly, and may we not injure you by our labor.” There are also hymns to Mother Earth, which states, “Earth, in which the seas, the rivers, and many waters lie, from which arise foods and fields of grain, abode to all that breathes and moves, may she confer on us with her finest yield.”
03. Karma
Good behavior results in good karma, hence, our behavior towards the environment marks simultaneous karmic consequences. In short, our environmental actions affect our karma. Karma is the basic focus not just in Hindu philosophy but in Buddhism as well. It says that each of our actions creates consequences which constitute our karma and results or effects our future actions. We as humans, who have free choice to act anyway have to have a sense of responsibility and be cautious to our actions. Many Hindu texts and Gurus mentions that natural disasters are consequences of our actions where we have harmed mother nature in various ways.
04. Dharma
Dhar and darna mean hold/support/harmony. It is a set of practices that enables humans to sustain in the world. Dharma includes the moral code and lays out the rules and guidelines on how humans can stay in harmony with the world around us. Mostly, Hindu religion believes to not have any specific name for the religion. It is just called “dharmic”(religious) - one who follows a code. Therefore, protecting the environment is part of Dharma and people in the olden times, did not have an understanding of “the environment” as separate from the other spheres of activity in their lives.
05. Pancha Mahabhutas - Five Elements
Hindu religion teaches that the five great elements, such as, Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth constitute the environment, which is all derived from nature. As a result, it creates a web of life that connects the cosmos, nature, plants, animals, the human body and everything present in the universe. The Upanishads explains that the interdependence of these elements in relation to Brahman, the supreme reality, from which they arise: “From Brahman arises space, from space, arises air, from air arises fire, from fire, arises water, and from water arises earth.”
It is recognized that the human body contains and relates to these five elements. Furthermore, each of the elements relates to one of the five senses. The human nose is related to earth, tongue relates to water, eyes relates to fire, skin relates to air and ears relates to space. This bond between our senses and the elements is the foundation of our human relationship with the natural world. They are an inseparable part of our existence, and they constitute our very bodies. Hence, harming nature would, in fact, be harming ourselves.
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Copyright: https://detechter.com/5-hindu-philosophies-makes-us-responsible-towards-environment
Om-Shanti: - Studie en Academie Materiaal
HINDUISM - GENERAL - Deel 1 - 02
10 Indian Inventions and Discoveries that Shaped the Modern World
The famous American author Will Durant writes in his book of The Story of Civilization about the Indian civilization: “It is true that even across the Himalayan barrier, India has sent to the West such gifts as grammar and logic, philosophy and fables, hypnotism and chess, and above all numerals and the decimal system. India was the mother of our race and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages. She was the mother of our philosophy, mother through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics, mother through Buddha, of the ideals embodied in Christianity, mother through village communities of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all.”
Many scholars have attempted to document the ancient Indian civilization over the years. But very few talk about the accurate details that's been able to penetrate the public. Incredible discoveries and inventions in ancient India have shaken the world that we belong to today.
01. The Hindu Numeral system
Not many realize the numeral system that we currently use came from India. Most people think that we are using the Arabic numerals, but the Arab traders acquired the Indian mathematical concepts when they came to India and shared it with the West when they travelled around. This system broke the common, but complex Roman system back then. The other civilizations were also working to create a better numeral system than Roman, but the Indian numeral system succeeded, and is used as a foundation in our modern mathematics and has a stronghold in our modern life.
Apart from the numeral system, there are several other mathematical principles that have the roots in India, and the foreign scholars - from Greek philosophers to Arab mathematicians and from British inventors to Nazi and Cold War era scientists have been studying these principles. Albert Einstein says, “We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.” Ludvig von Shroeder says, “Nearly all the philosophical and mathematical doctrines attributed to Pythagoras are derived from India.”
02. Carburized Steel
India is supposedly one of the pioneers in metallurgy and had been producing top quality steel way back, two thousand years back than the time when Michael Faraday demystified the real process. The Indian Wootz Steel is considered to be legendary, and many great civilizations - from Ancient Greece to Persia, from Arabia to Ancient Rome - were so astonished by it. Even King Porus selected it as a gift to offer Alexander the Great, instead of picking the common gold and silver. High-quality steel is still a major raw material in the modern world of production and industries. After the independence, India has again become the world leader in metallurgy and production of high-quality steel.
03. Influence in Western Philosophy
Many historians talk about the influence of India in Ancient Greeks and Romans. Apart from the technology, town planning, and statecraft, Greeks sought new ideas and thoughts in the Vedic scriptures and even learned their trades in Indian universities like Taxila and Nalanda. In the Western philosophy, the Greek philosophers play a prominent role in shaping the core of their thought process in philosophy, and their philosophies are considered to be the foundation of the modern philosophies. But many scholars also acknowledge how Indians have contributed to Greek philosophies. In “The Shape of Ancient Thought”, Thomas McEvilley presents a thorough analysis of how Indian philosophy directly made an impact in the pre-Socratic Greek philosophy. Voltaire says, “Is it not probable that the Brahmins were the first legislators of the earth, the first philosophers, the first theologians? The Greeks, before the time of Pythagoras, travelled into India for instruction.”
04. Without cotton textiles, the world would have had clothing crisis
The use of cotton textiles for clothing is a revolutionary Indian contribution to the world. Back in the days, the Greeks were still wearing animal skin, until they found the cotton industry in India when Alexander the Great was conquering the world. That was when they started to use Indian garments, which is what we all still wear today. The Columbia Encyclopaedia writes: “Hundreds of years before the Christian era, cotton textiles were woven in India with matchless skill, and their use spread to the Mediterranean countries.” The Western Europeans might argue with this, however. What we have achieved today is because of the knowledge gained from high-quality textiles production and trading with India. Many argue that the Indian te textile industry was intentionally dismantled. Dan Nadudere, in The Political Economy of Imperialism, says, “It was by destroying the Indian textile industry that the British textile industry ever came up at all.”
05. Democracy
The Greek republic of Athens is always regarded as the oldest non-tribal, organized democracy in the world But historians know about the ancient Indian republic of Vaishali which dates back to 600 BCE, which is almost a hundred years before the institution of Athenian democracy. But the modern-era colonial propaganda neglects this fact. Rather than that, the most ancient form of Indian democracy is the “panchayat” system which dates back more than three thousand years ago. It literally means “assembly of five”, whereby five leaders combine to govern the society. Thomas McEvilley says, “Through such chronological manipulations, the threat that the Indian past presents to the Greek miracle (as postulated by European supremacists) is defused by chronology.” Will Durant says, “India was the mother of village communities of self-government and democracy.”
06. Lunar water
The most recent space exploration between 2008 and 2009 with Chadrayaan-1 detected the presence of lunar water and is regarded as one of the modern contributions by India in the space world. This exploration was done even before NASA'S “Moon Mineralogy Mapper”. Jim Green, NASA Director, said, “We want to thank ISRO for making the discovery possible. The moon till now was thought to be a very dry surface with a lot of rocks.”
07. Quantum Statistics
Many European scientists are known to have turned to Vedas for inspiration. Arthur Schopenhauer, “The Upanishads is the most satisfying and elevating reading which is possible in the world; it has been the solace of my life and will be the solace of my death.” The likes of Einsteins, Nazi scientists, and other inventors were also the student of the advanced Upanishads. Wheeler Wilcox says, “India - the land of Vedas, the remarkable works contain not only religious ideas for a perfect life but also facts which science has proved true. Electricity, radium, electronics, airship, all were known to the seers who founded the Vedas.” The most unnoticed hero, however, is the 20th century Bengali scientist Satyendra Nath Bose who provided the foundations for quantum statistics. But the Nobel Prize went to German and US scientists. He is still known for the widely known “God particle”, and is part of the Higgs Boson particle. P. Johnstone says, “Gravitation was known to the Indians before the birth of Newton. The system of blood circulation was discovered by them centuries before Harvey was heard of.”
08. Wireless Communication
The inventor of wireless radio technology is attributed to Guglielmo Marconi and also received Nobel Peace Prize in Physics. But Jagadish Chandra Bose, an Indian scientist, demonstrated the first use of radio technology in 1895, which is two years before Marconi's demonstration. In the Daily Chronicle, England, 1896, there is a piece that says, “The inventor (J.C. Bose) has transmitted signals to a distance of nearly a mile and herein lies the first and obvious and exceedingly valuable application of this new theoretical marvel.”
09. Zero
Zero is one of the most important inventions in the world of Mathematics. It has had an impact in all fields - from art, philosophy, to technology. That's even led to the binary bits 0 and 1, which is critical in the world of technology. It's because of these O’s and I’s that you've been able to read this article on your device. Lancelot Hogben says, “In the whole history of mathematics, there has been no more revolutionary step than the one which India made when they invented zero.” Similar strategies to use calculus (which has been attributed to Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz) were developed hundreds of years before they did. Even the Pythagorean theorem had been developed in a similar fashion before in India.
Dr. David Gray writes, “The study of mathematics in the West has long been characterized by a certain ethnocentric bias, a bias which most often manifests not in explicit racism, but in a tendency toward undermining or eliding the real contributions made by non-Western civilizations. The debt owed by the West to other civilizations, and to India in particular, go back to the earliest epoch of the “Wester” scientific tradition, the age of the classical Greeks, and continued up until the dawn of the modern era, the Renaissance when Europe was awakening from its dark ages.... Due to the legacy of colonialism, the exploitation of which was ideologically justified through a doctrine of racial superiority, the contributions of non-European civilizations were often ignored, or, as George Ghevarughese Joseph argued, even distorted, in that they were often misattributed as European.”
10. Complex Hydraulic Engineering
During the growth of Indus valley civilization 5000 years ago, a vast and highly advanced network of canals, along with intricate irrigation, water management, and sewage systems were developed in parts of India. In this largest ancient civilization of the world, the sewage systems were designed in such a way that the blockages were self-cleared and even accounted for smell and odor. They even had developed first flush toilets back in the days.
David Hatcher Childress, an American author of historical revisionism, claims that the sewage systems were so sophisticated that they are still superior to many developing countries today. He writes about Indus valley civilization with these words: “A wonder to modern-day researchers, the cities were highly developed and advanced. A remarkable early example of city planning.”
A similar system of canals that was developed by lsambard Kingdom Brunel in the 19th century existed way before in India. Edmund Burke, a philosophical father of the modern Conservative party, slams the impact of British colonization in India that had ruined the Indian reservoir system that had lasted forthousands of years and had kept the dry regions fertile, making the Indian population self-sufficient, nourished and prosperous. He writes,
“In the happier times of India, a number almost incredible of reservoirs have been made in chosen places throughout the whole country. There cannot be in the Carnatic and Tanjore (alone) fewer than ten thousand of these reservoirs of the larger and middling dimensions.”
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Copyright: https://detechter.com/10-indian-inventions-and-discoveries-that-shaped-the-modern-world/
Om-Shanti: - Studie en Academie Materiaal
HINDUISM - GENERAL - Deel 1 - 03
15 Ancient Hindu Predictions That Have Come True
In the last section of the ancient Hindu text Bhagavata Purana, there is a list of predictions and prophecies about the dark times for the present age of Kali Yuga. The following fifteen predictions, written 5,000 years ago by Veda Vyasa, are amazing because they appear so accurate.
Prediction 1
Religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.1
Prediction 2
In Kali Yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man’s good birth, proper behaviour and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one’s power.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.2
Prediction 3
Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one’s expertise in sex and a man will be known as a brahmana just by his wearing a thread.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.3
Prediction 4
A person’s spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols and on that same basis, people will change from one spiritual order to the nest. A person’s propriety will be seriously questioned if he do not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.4
Prediction 5
A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue. Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.5
Prediction 6
A sacred place will be taken tot consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.6
Prediction 7
As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.7
Prediction 8
Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers and seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.8
Prediction 9
The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease and severe anxiety.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.9
Prediction 10
The maximum duration of life for human beings in Kali Yuga will become 50 years.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.10
Prediction 11
Men will no longer protect their elderly parents.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.11
Prediction 12
In Kali-yuga men will develop a hatred for each other even over a few coins. Giving up all friendly relations, they will be ready to lose their own lives and kill even their own relatives.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.12
Prediction 13
Uncultured men will accept charity on behalf of the Lord and will earn their livelihood by making a show of austerity and wearing a mendicant’s dress. Those who know nothing about religion will mount a high seat and presume to speak on religious principles.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.13
Prediction 14
Servants will abandon a master who has lost his wealth, even if that master is a saintly person of exemplary character. Masters will abandon an incapacitated servant, even is that servant has been in the family for generations. Cows will be abandoned or killed when they stop giving milk.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.14
Prediction 15
Cities will be dominated by thieves, the Vedas will be contaminated by speculative interpretations of atheists, political leaders will virtually consume the citizens, and the so-called priests and intellectuals will be devotees of their bellies and genitals.
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.15
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Copyright: https://detechter.com/15-ancient-hindu-predictions-that-have-come-true/
Om-Shanti: - Studie en Academie Materiaal
HINDUISM - GENERAL - Deel 1 - 04
20 Reasons Why Hinduism is Very Scientific Religion
Hindu Dharma is scientific as it is based on what can be known, intuited and experienced. There is no need for any blind belief to qualify for heaven. The Rishis had profound insights not only in spiritual but also worldly matters. The Rig Veda (10.22.14) states that earth is round, goes around the sun, etc., yet even Hindu children don’t hear about it. Yoga is a verified science, and whosoever denies it, should understand it before calling it a pseudo-science. It’s not even religious in nature or the definition by a far margin. Also Hatha Yoga is depicted as a form of aerobics and nothing more.
Below are few examples of Scientific Proofs of a few day to day things which all Hindus do and this gives a clear picture of Hindu Religion is a very Scientific Religion. There are many other proofs of Hinduism, that is a great science wherein we get all the Knowledge of Any field in sciences like Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Astronomy, Maths, Biology, etc.
01. Joining Both Palms Together to Greet
In Hindu culture, people greet each other by joining their palms, termed as “Namaskar”. The great reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining both the palms means respect. However, scientifically speaking, joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together, which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears and mind. Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person fo a long time. And, nog germs since we don’t make any physical contact!
02. Why Do Hindu Women Wear Toe Ring
Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart. Wearing toe ring on this finger strengthens the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularized. As silver is a good conductor, it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body.
03. Throwing Coins Into a River
The general reasoning given for this act is that it brings Good Luck. However, scientifically speaking, in the ancient times, most of the currency used were made of copper unlike the stainless steel coins of today. Copper is a vital metal very useful to the human body. Throwing coins in the river was one way our forefathers ensured we intake sufficient copper as part of the water as rivers were the only source of drinking water. Making it a custom ensured that all of us follow the practice.
04. Applying Tilak/Kumkum/Tika on the Forehead
On the forehead, between the two eyebrows, is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in the human body since ancient times. The Tilak is believed to prevent the loss of “energy”, the red “kumkum” between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. While applying kumkum, the points on the mid-brow region and Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles.
05. Why do Temples have Bells
People who are visiting the temples should and will Ring the bell before entering the inner sanctum (Garbhagudi or Garbha Gruha or womb-chamber) where the main idol is placed. According to Agama Sastra, the bell is used to give sound for keeping evil forces away and the ring of the bell is pleasant to God. However, the scientific reasons behind bells is that their ring clears our mind and helps us stay sharp and keep our full concentration on devotional purpose. These bells are made in such a way that when they produce a sound it creates a unity of the Left and Right parts of our brains. The moment we ring the bell, it produces a sharp and enduring sound which lasts for the minimum of 7 seconds in echo mode. The duration of echo is good enough to activate all the seven healing centers in our body. This results in emptying our brain from all negative thoughts.
06. Why We Start With Spice & End With Sweet
Our ancestors have stressed on the fact that our meals should be started off with something spicy and sweet dishes should be taken towards the end. The significance of this eating practice is that while spicy things activate the digestive juices and acids and ensure that the digestion process goes on smoothly and efficiently, sweets or carbohydrates pulls down the digestive process. Hence, sweets were always recommended to be takes as the last item.
07. Why do Indian Girls Apply Mehend/Henna on the Hand and Feet
Besides lending color to the hands, mehndi is a very powerful medicinal herb. Weddings are stressful, and often, the stress causes headaches and fevers. As the wedding day approaches, the excitement mixed with nervous anticipation can take its toll on the bride and groom. Application of mehndi can prevent too much stress because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming tense. This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands and feet, which house nerve endings in the body.
08. Sitting on the Floor & Eating
This tradition is not just about sitting on the floor and eating, it is regarding sitting in the “Sukhasan” position and then eating. Sukhasan is the position we normally use for Yoga asanas. When you sit on the floor, you usually sit cross-legged - in sukhasana or a half padmasana (half lotus), which are poses that instantly bring a sense of calm and help in digestion, it is believed to automatically trigger the signals to your brain to prepare the stomach for digestion.
09. Why You Should not Sleep with your Head Towards North
The myth is that it invites ghost or death but science says that it is because the human body has its own magnetic field (also known as heart’s magnetic field, because the flow of blood) and Earth is a giant magnet. When we sleep with head towards north, our body’s magnetic field become completely asymmetrical to the heart needs to work harder in order to overcome this asymmetry of Magnetic fields. Apart from this, another reason is that Our body have the significant amount of iron in our blood. When we sleep in this position, iron from the whole body starts to congregate in the brain. This can cause a headache, Alzheimer’s Disease, Cognitive Decline, Parkinson disease and brain degeneration.
10. Why We Pierce Ear
Piercing the ears have a great importance in Hindu ethos. Many physicians and philosophers believe that piercing the ears helps in the development of intellect, a power of thinking and decision-making faculties. Talkativeness fritters away life energy. Ear piercing helps in speech restraint. It helps to reduce impertinent behavior and the ear channels become free from disorders. This idea appeals to the Western world as well, and so they are getting their ears pierced to wear fancy earrings as a mark of fashion.
11. Surya Namaskar
Hindus have a tradition of paying regards to Sun God early in the morning by their water offering ritual. It was mainly because looking at Sun rays through water or directly at that time of the day is good for eyes and also by waking up to follow this routine, we become prone to a morning lifestyle and mornings are proven to be the most effective part of the day.
12. Choti (Tuppi) on the Male Head
Sushrut rishi, the foremost surgeon of Ayurveda, describes the master sensitive spot on the head as Adhipati Marma, where there is a nexus of all nerves. The Shikha protects this spot. Below, in the brain, occurs the Brahmarandhra, where the sushu-mna (nerve) arrives from the lower part of the body. In Yog, Brahmarandhra is the highest, seventh chakra, with the thousand-petalled lotus. It is the center of wisdom. The knotted shikha helps boost this center and conserve its subtle energy as Ojas.
13. Why Do We Fast
The underlying principle behind fasting is to be found in Ayurveda. This ancient Indian medical system sees the basic cause of many diseases as the accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system. Regular cleansing of toxic materials keeps one healthy. By fasting, the digestive organs get rest and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected. A complete fast is good for health and the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of fasting prevents the flatulence. Since the human body, as explained by Ayurveda, is composed of 80% liquid and 20% solid, like the earth, the gravitational forca of the moon affects the fluid contents of the body. It causes emotional imbalances in the body, making some people tense, irritable and violent. Fasting acts as an antidote, for it lowers the acid content in the body which helps people to retain their sanity. Research suggests there are major health benefits to caloric restriction like reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, immune disorders, etc.
14. The Scientific Explanation of Touching Feet (Charan Sparsh)
Usually the person whose feet your are touching is either old or pious. When they accept your respect which came from your reduced ego (and is called your shraddha) their hearts emit positive thoughts and energy (which is called their Karuna) which reaches you through their hands and toes. In essence, the completed circuit enables the flow of energy and increases cosmic energy, switching on a quick connect between two minds and hearts. To an extent, the same is achieved through handshakes and hugs. The nerves that start from our brain spread across all your body. These nerves or wires end in the fingertips of your hand and feet. When you join the fingertips of your hand to those of their opposite feet, a circuit is immediately formed and the energies of two bodies are connected. Your fingers and palms become the “receptor” of energy and the feet of other person become the “giver” of energy.
15. Why Married Women Apply Sindoor
It is interesting to note that the application of sindoor by married women carries a psychological significance. Modern Sindoor uses Vermilion, which is that purified and powdered form of cinnabar, the chief form in which mercury sulfide naturally occurs. In the past, Sindoor was prepared by mixing tumeric-lime, other herbal ingredients and the metal mercury. Due to its intrinsic properties, mercury besides controlling blood pressure also activates sexual drive. This also explains why Sindoor is prohibited for the widows. For best results, Sindoor should be applied right up to the pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered. Mercury is also known for removing stress and strain.
16. Why Do We Worship Peepal Tree
“Peepal” tree is almost useless for an ordinary person, except for its shadow. “Peepal” does not have a delicious fruit, its wood is not strong enough for any purpose then why should a common villager or person worship it or even care for it? Our ancestors knew that ”Peepal” is one of the very few trees (or probably the only tree) which produces oxygen even at night. So in order to save this tree because of its unique property, they related it to God/religion.
17.Why Do We Worship Tulsi Plant
Hindu religion has bestowed “Tulsi”, with the status of mother. Also known as “Sacred or Holy Basil”, Tulsi, has been recognized as a religious and spiritual devout in many parts of the world. The Vedic sages knew the benefits of Tulsi and that is why they personified it as a Goddess and gave a clear message to the entire community that it needs to be taken care of by the people, literate or illiterate. We try to protect it because it is like Sanjeevani for the mankind. Tulsi has great medicinal properties. It is a remarkable antibiotic. Taking Tulsi everyday in tea or otherwise increases immunity and help the drinker prevent diseases, stabilize his or her health condition, balance his or her body system and most important of all, prolong his or her life. Keeping Tulsi plant at home prevents insects and mosquitoes from entering the house. It is said that snakes do not dare to go near a Tulsi plant. Maybe that is why ancient people would grow lots of Tulsi near their houses.
18. Why Do We Worship Idol
Hinduism propagates idol worship more than any other religion. Researchers say that this was initiated for the purpose of increasing concentration during prayers. According to psychiatrists, a man will shape his thoughts as per what he sees. If you have 3 different objects in front of you, your thinking will change according to the object your are viewing. Similarly, in ancient India, idol worship was established so that when people view idols it is easy for them to concentrate to gain spiritual energy and meditate without mental diversion.
19. Why Do Hindu Women Wear Bangles
Normally the wrist portion is in constant activation on any human. Also, the pulse beat in this portion is mostly checked for all sorts of ailments. The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of one’s hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level. Furthermore the electricity passing out through the outer skin is again reverted to one’s own body because of the ring-shaped bangles, which has no end to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body.
20. Why Should We Visit Temple
Temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic and electric wave distributions of north/south pole thrust. The main idol is placed in the core center of the temple, known as “Garbhagriha” or Moolasthanam. In fact, the temple structure is built after the idol has been placed. This Moolasthanam is where earth's magnetic waves are found to be maximum. We know that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the Main Idol. What are they really? No, they are not God's/priests’ flash cards when they forget the shlokas. The copper plate absorbs earth's magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus, a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Idol receives the beamed magnetic waves and his body absorbs it. This is a very slow process and a regular visit will let him absorb more of this positive energy. Scientifically, it is a positive energy that we all require having a healthy life.
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Copyright: https://detechter.com/20-reasons-why-hinduism-is-very-scientific-religion/
Om-Shanti: - Studie en Academie Materiaal
HINDUISM - GENERAL - Deel 1 - 05
25 Amazing Facts about Hinduism that
Most Hindus Probably Wouldn’t Know
01.
Hinduism is the oldest known religion best known as Sanātana Dharma, with its roots going back to 10,000 years and Hindu Literature dating back to 7000 BCE.
02.
14% of the World’s Population follows Hindu Dharma making it 3rd largest religion after Christianity and Islam.
03.
Yoga, Pranayama, Astrology, Numerology, Palmistry, and Vastu are all part of Hindu culture and lifestyle.
04.
The largest Hindu temple in the world is surprisingly not in India but is in Angkor, Cambodia.
05.
Nepal was formed by a Hindu saint called Ne Muni.
06.
In Hindu religion, men and women are treated as equal halves. Women are also treated as Goddesses.
07.
Hindu temples are not just architectural marvels, they are energy centers and hold great scientific significance which was proven. The usage of metals and construction patterns are proven to transmit positive energy.
08.
Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the four goals of an ideal Hindu.
09.
The word “Karma” is derived from the Hindu concept of “good and bad deeds”.
10.
Buddhism has its roots from Hinduism, it originated first in India and later spread across Asia.
11.
One in every seven people in the world is a Hindu living in India.
12.
Steve Jobs had suggested Mark Zuckerberg to visit Kainchi Dham, this is a temple in Uttarakhand to find his inner peace and spirituality.
13.
The World’s richest religious structure is in India, the Padmanabha swamy temple is Kerala holds properties including most precious jewels worth around US$ 22.3 billion.
14.
There are 108,000 recognized temples in India.
15.
There is no known founder of Hinduism.
16.
“Hinduism” is not the real name for the religion. The real name of Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma. This means “eternal dharma”, or eternal truth.
17.
The word Hinduism is derived from the word “Sindhu River”.
18.
“Kumbhamela”, is a Hindu Festival which occurs once every 12 years and is the largest gathering of humans in the world.
19.
The Saree, a dress worn by women even in modern India and Nepal, dates its origin to the Hindu Cultures from Indus Valley Civilization (2000 B.C.).
20.
Hinduism has its huge influence and common concepts with Sikhism and Jainism which are later originated in India.
21.
108 is the holiest numbers in Hinduism. 108 is considered a holy number also in Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism while its roots originated from Hinduism.
22.
Rig Veda is the oldest known book in the world with its contents dating back to 7000 B.C.
23.
Kamasutra Book is one of the highest selling books around the world.
24.
The Vedas and many other teachings of Hinduism were preserved for thousands of years without paper. They were chanted, memorized and passed on to the next generation.
25.
Singapore City is built based on the Hindu literature of Architecture called “Vastu” which is appreciated by the modern day architects and is adopted in their designs around the world.
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Copyright: https://detechter.com/25-amazing-facts-about-hinduism-that-most-hindus-probably-wouldnt-know/
Om-Shanti: - Studie en Academie Materiaal
HINDUISM - GENERAL - Deel 1 - 06
Here is Why Hinduism is Actually called Sanatana Dharma
In ancient times, Persians called people living on the bank of Sindhu River as Hindu because they lacked “Sa” syllable in their language and pronunciation, and mixed with “Ha” syllable, thus called Hindu instead of Sindhu. After the influence of European, especially British, due to the colonization of Indus Valley civilization, Hindu religion came to be called Hinduism. But the actual name of the religion is Sanatana Dharma where Sanatana means eternal and Dharma means duty.
Sanatana Dharma means the eternal duty. Not just Hindus, but all beings in creation, including animals, deities, gods, and rest of humanity, share this duty.
In terms of humans and higher entities, Dharma is also used in reference to any set of moral and religious laws and principles that govern religious duty and human conduct upon earth. Hence, in popular usage Dharma is interpreted as morality or religion rather than duty. The essence of Dharma is to protect the order and the regularity of the world through specific obligation by morality and religion as a guiding factor.
Every living being and every object under God’s creation, reasoning above, has a special role and a specific duty in God’s manifested universe. Thus, Sanatana Dharma, which modern world popularly understand as Hinduism, is a duty obliged to God that is shared by all from the lowest to highest creative beings.
Who is a Hindu and why are conversions not accepted in Sanatana Dharma?
It will be unrealistic and unfair to name only to those who practice Hinduism religiously as Hindu, but to all those who contribute to God’s creation and continuity of the creation by performing and sharing the eternal and continuous duties and owes his or her life and adherence to the creator. That is why Sanatana Dharma do not actively seek conversions or increment of numbers of the followers, as everyone, knowingly or unknowingly, in God’s creation is bound to God’s eternal duties and therefore do not require to be converted. It is just that differentiation arises on the basis of good deeds and bad deeds, where good deeds are the religion of Devas (good) and bad deeds are of the Asuras (evil). With this karma, God decides the faith of the being to be rewarded or punished.
How to be more insightful of understanding Sanatana Dharma?
Only foolish argue which religion is the best, as every religion has its own value, just as every duty. Each accommodates to certain needs and fulfills certain aims. Whatever the presumption is, if the living being caters God’s guidelines, he or she is following Sanatana Dharma. Therefore, it is wise not to form hatred in one’s mind to any religion. If we act selflessly take good actions in protecting and putting effort on the regularity of the God’s creation, we are all under Sanatana Dharma.
Lower species have their own special duties, for example in the case of ants, younger ants work inside their nest taking care of the queen and her brood while older workers go outside to gather food and defend the nest against enemies. They are given special duties and perform accordingly. Since the actions of lower species are guided by Nature, they do not incur karma as much as human beings, who are intelligent and who can exercise their will for good and bad.
According to the scriptures of Sanatana Dharma, we all have a responsibility towards ourselves, family, society, towards ancestors and divinities, and to all living beings in general. These duties are essentially meant to establish peace and stability in us, in others and in the world in general.
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Copyright: https://detechter.com/hinduism-is-actually-called-sanatana-dharma/
Om-Shanti: - Studie en Academie Materiaal
HINDUISM - GENERAL - Deel 1 - 07
Most interesting Facts About Hinduism You May Not Know
The world's 3rd largest religion closely following Christianity and Islam is Hinduism. Hinduism is the world's oldest known religion and originally known as Sanatana Dharma, with its roots going back to 10,000 years and Hindu scriptures dating back to 7000 BC.
Here are few interesting Facts about Hinduism:
- Unlike other major religions, Hinduism doesn't consider the pursuit of wealth as a sin.
- The holiest number in Hinduism is 108. This is the ratio of Sun's distance (from earth) Sun's diameter or Moon's distance (from earth) Moon's diameter. Thus, most of our prayer beads have 108 beads. Unlike all other major religions, Hinduism doesn't have a founder. According to Hinduism, the religion has no origin. Hinduism is the only religion that is pro-science from early ages.
- Hinduism is the only religion that is pro-science from early ages. Some of the mind-bog-gling advances in Hinduism texts were:
Mathematics:
Search Engine Hashing Algorithms - Kathapayadi System Musicology; Concept of zero (as a number and as a marker), the concept of Infinity and concept of the Decimal Number System (with a carry-forward); Pythagoras Theorem.
Evolution:
Contrary to most religious beliefs of God creating life, Vedic Vishnu Purana deciphered evolution thousands of years ago in the form of Dashavataram. It starts with Matsya (Fish) and next came to the Tortoise (Kurma) - the amphibian. The next avatar is the Boar (Varaha) - symbolizing the first Mammal. The next is Narasimha (Man-lion) - the being in between the humanoid and the mammal. Next, comes Vamana (dwarf) - the primal short man, and then Parashurama (man with an axe) - representing the first hunter-gatherers creating the first tools. Before Darwin.
Cosmology:
The Big Bang theory is mentioned as early as the Rig Veda, where, in Mandala X - the Cosmos and the “Golden Egg” or the Sun, is born from the Cosmic Void - often called as Asat (Non-being) - also meaning “Non-wisdom” or Chaos.
Medicine:
Ayurveda was also taught to Chinese, Greek, Roman and Persian students who studied at the great Indian Universities as Takshila in Pakistan and Nalanda in India - as early as 700BCE
More Interesting Facts about Hinduism You May Not Know:
- Hinduism has no concept of conversions. All the people following the faith have either willingly embraced it or acquired it by birth.
- Hinduism has spread across many countries over the years, especially in Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and other South East Asian countries.
- Hindu temples are not just architectural marvels, they are energy centers and hold great scientific significance which was proven. The usage of metals and construction patterns are proven to transmit positive energy.
- The institution of marriage was founded and put forth by Hinduism.
- Hinduism has reformed itself multiple times to get rid of any practices like Sati Sahagamana to suit humanity.
- Yoga, the World's most practiced form of spiritual and physical fitness procedure, originated from Hinduism in the Indus- Saraswati civilization 5000 years ago.
- In Hindu cosmology, it is believed that the universe is created and destroyed in a cycle every 4.32 billion years. Quite interestingly, this period is quite close to the current scientific age of the earth.
- Robert Oppenheimer (considered “Father of the Atomic Bomb”) learned Sanskrit in 1933 and used to frequently quote from the sacred Hindu book - the “Bhagwad Gita”. He used his Sanskrit knowledge to decode the Vedas and ancient scripts to form the basis of the Manhattan project and probably much more under the rug.
In the End, this is what Hinduism teaches us:
“Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.”
“May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Let
there be Peace, Peace, and Peace everywhere.”
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Copyright: https://detechter.com/most-interesting-facts-about-hinduism-you-may-not-know/
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