SCIENCE BEHIND OUR TAMIL TRADITIONS

Our Tamil Hindu culture has many traditions. Nowadays many people say it as a superstitious beliefs and don't want to follow them. Today's girls avoid many traditions in the name of fashion. These traditions not only has its values, also science behind it. Lets see some ten amazing facts behind our Hindu traditions.

1. GREETING PEOPLE:

In our culture we used to greet people by saying VANAKKAM by joining both the palms together to show the respect. Scientifically speaking, joining both hands ensures pressing the tips of all the fingers, which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind. Pressing them together activates the pressure points which helps us to remember that person for a long time.  And moreover no physical contact with each other, so no fear of germs.

 2. KUMKUM ON FOREHEAD: 

Red kumkum between the two eye brows is believed to prevent the loss of energy and retains it and controls the concentration, since it is a spot of major nerve point. While applying the kumkum the pressure point at that place is given a pressure to activate that chakra( Adnya Chakra). This also facilitates blood circulation to the face muscles.

3. SINDOOR (VERMILION ):                   

It is interesting to note that that the application of sindoor by married women carries a physiological significance. This is so because Sindoor is prepared by mixing turmeric-lime 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 upto the pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered. Mercury is also known for removing stress and strain.

4. WEARING EAR RINGS: 

Indian girls pierce their ears to wear Ear rings. Indian physicians believe that piercing the ears helps in the development of intellect, power of thinking and decision making.Ear piercing helps in speech-restraint. It helps to reduce impertinent or rude behavior.Also the ear-channels become free from disorders. Tamil people pierce ear even for boys.These reasons make the western world to pierce their ears as a fashion.

5. WEARING BANGLES: 

The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of ones hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level. Further more the electricity passing out through outer skin is again reverted to one’s own body because of the ring shaped bangles, which has no ends to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body. 

6. WEARING TOE RING:

Wearing toe rings is not only the significant identity of a 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 regularizes menstrual cycle. Toe rings are usually worn in Silver.As Silver is a good conductor, it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body.

7. TULSI PLANT WORSHIP: 

Tulsi is considered as 'Queen of Herbs' and called as Holy Basil. In Hinduism, Tulsi is revered as a goddess in the form of a plant bestowed with healing powers. Tulsi or Basil has great medicinal properties. The leaves strengthen the stomach and helps in respiratory diseases. Taking Tulsi leaves everyday in form of tea increases immunity, prevent diseases, stabilize health condition, balance the body system and most important of all, prolongs life span. 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 have grown lots of Tulsi near their houses. Even healthy people can chew 12 leaves a day. Recent studies says it as a good stress reliever.

8. PEEPAL TREE WORSHIP( Arasa maram in Tamil): 

It is called as  Bodhi tree or Aswattha tree. The sacred fig is considered to have religious significance in three major religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.‘Peepal’ tree has many medicinal values. ‘Peepal’ does not a have a delicious fruit, its wood is not strong enough for any purpose, even then our people plant it mainly for its shade. Our ancestors knew that ‘Peepal’ is one of the very few trees which produces oxygen even at night. So in order to save this tree because of its unique property they related it to God/religion.

9. APLLYING MEHENDI( Marudhaani in Tamil):

Applying mehendi not only gives colour and decorations to hand, also it can prevent too much stress because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming tense. This is the reason why mehendi is applied on the hands and feet, which house nerve endings in the body. Mostly on wedding occasions mehendi is applied for brides and sometimes grooms( only in their inner palm) too, to keep them stress free.

10.FASTING

 This ancient Indian medical system sees the basic cause of many diseases as the accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system which should be cleansed at regular period of time. By fasting, the digestive organs get rest and all body mechanisms are cleansed. A complete fast is good for heath. During fasting liquids like warm lemon water should be taken to avoid flatulence( accumulation of gas in alimentary canal). Since the human body is  contains an average of 70% of water. fasting decreases low density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol which keeps weight in balance and avoids risk factors for heart diseases. Fasting acts as 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.

Let us follow at least some of these traditions to keep ourselves  healthy and stress free.