From a very early age, Hindus are introduced, and encouraged, to follow
the various rules, rites, rituals and religious practices that seem to lie at the
heart and soul of Hinduism. More often than not, these are blindly followed
because our elders have been observing them and because we are told that
we must follow them too. But most of us are unaware of the science behind
the rites; there are logical explanations for all the dos and don’ts—we are
simply not aware of them. Since no one has explained to us the rationale,
the science and the logic that lies at the core of these religious practices, we
are not to be blamed for our ignorance. Our parents, teachers and the
pundits themselves are usually unaware of the truth. In the absence of
appropriate knowledge about rituals, we conveniently call them
superstitions without realizing our ignorance. Therefore, it is but a necessity
that we understand the reasoning that guides the rituals and rites.
Most religions of the world came into being on account of the ‘wonder’
and ‘fear’ factors. Hinduism, however, had its genesis in questioning the
existence of man: Who am I? Where did I come from? What is the aim of
my life? Why was I born? Is there life beyond death? The ancient undiluted
and unpolluted Sanatana religion was based on reasoning, the tool of
modern science, and not on myth, as some may think. However, as time
passed, people forgot the basic facts of Hinduism, and its rediscovery is
useful for not just those who regard these rituals as meaningless but also for
those who follow them unquestioningly.
Hindu rituals have two aspects—philosophical and scientific. We must
understand them both to completely comprehend their true significance.
A sincere attempt has been made in this book to present hitherto
unexplained facts about some of the rituals that are commonly followed by
us in our day-to-day life, and the rationale behind each of them. It is hoped
that readers will find these revelations enlightening and interesting, and take
pride in what they do and why they practise those rituals.
It is also true that in this day and age of the Internet, with hectic lifestyles
and instant gratification being the norm, most of the old traditions and
rituals cannot be practised in the traditional way. Notwithstanding this
unpleasant reality of modern age, a genuine effort may be made to unravel
the principles behind these rituals, so as to follow them in their true spirit
and not simply as a matter of tradition.
the various rules, rites, rituals and religious practices that seem to lie at the
heart and soul of Hinduism. More often than not, these are blindly followed
because our elders have been observing them and because we are told that
we must follow them too. But most of us are unaware of the science behind
the rites; there are logical explanations for all the dos and don’ts—we are
simply not aware of them. Since no one has explained to us the rationale,
the science and the logic that lies at the core of these religious practices, we
are not to be blamed for our ignorance. Our parents, teachers and the
pundits themselves are usually unaware of the truth. In the absence of
appropriate knowledge about rituals, we conveniently call them
superstitions without realizing our ignorance. Therefore, it is but a necessity
that we understand the reasoning that guides the rituals and rites.
Most religions of the world came into being on account of the ‘wonder’
and ‘fear’ factors. Hinduism, however, had its genesis in questioning the
existence of man: Who am I? Where did I come from? What is the aim of
my life? Why was I born? Is there life beyond death? The ancient undiluted
and unpolluted Sanatana religion was based on reasoning, the tool of
modern science, and not on myth, as some may think. However, as time
passed, people forgot the basic facts of Hinduism, and its rediscovery is
useful for not just those who regard these rituals as meaningless but also for
those who follow them unquestioningly.
Hindu rituals have two aspects—philosophical and scientific. We must
understand them both to completely comprehend their true significance.
A sincere attempt has been made in this book to present hitherto
unexplained facts about some of the rituals that are commonly followed by
us in our day-to-day life, and the rationale behind each of them. It is hoped
that readers will find these revelations enlightening and interesting, and take
pride in what they do and why they practise those rituals.
It is also true that in this day and age of the Internet, with hectic lifestyles
and instant gratification being the norm, most of the old traditions and
rituals cannot be practised in the traditional way. Notwithstanding this
unpleasant reality of modern age, a genuine effort may be made to unravel
the principles behind these rituals, so as to follow them in their true spirit
and not simply as a matter of tradition.
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