Traditions

Showing posts with label Traditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Traditions. Show all posts

Monday, 15 December 2014

Mysteries Explored: Indian Customs Vs Scientific Reasons-1

Shocking science behind Hindu Traditions

Traditions in Hinduism were considered mainly as superstitions, but with the advent of science, it is becoming evident that these traditions are based on some scientific knowledge and moved from generations to generations as traditions, Though the common people did not know science in it, they were following it with faithfully over the years. This blog is an attempt to bring forward the science involved in these traditions and rituals...

1. Throwing Coins into the 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 was 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 on way our fore-fathers ensured we intake sufficient copper as part of the water as rivers were the only source of drinking water. Making it a custom ensure that all of follow the practice.

2. Joining Both Palms together to Greet:
In Hindu culture, people greet each other by joining their palms - termed as "Namaskar". The general 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 for a long time. And, no germs since we don't make any physical contact.

3. Why do Indian 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.

4. Applying Tilak on the Forehead:On the forehead, between the two eyebrows, is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in 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 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.

5. Why do Temples have Bells:
People who are visiting the temple 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 forced away and the ring of the bell is pleasant to God.
However, the scientific reason 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 in the Left and Right parts of our brains. The moment we ring the bell, it produces a sharp and enduring sound which lasts for minimum of 7 seconds in echo mode. The duration of echo is good enough to activate all the seven healing centres in our body. This results in emptying our brain from all negative thoughts.

6. Why do we have Navratras:
Our living style has drastically changed if we compare it to the society hundreds and thousands of years ago. The traditions which we follow in present are not establishments of today but of the past. Ever thought, why do we have Navratras twice a year unlike other festivals like Deepawali or Holi? Well, both these months are the months of changing seasons and the eating habits of both the seasons are quite different from each other. Navratras give enough time to the body to adjust and prepare itself for to the changing season, These nine days were marked as a period when people would clean their body system by keeping fasts by avoiding excessive salt and sugar, meditate, gain a lot of positive energy, gain a lot of self confidence and increase the self determination power (fasts are a medium to improve our will power and self determination) and finally get ready for the challenges of the changed season.

Sunday, 25 May 2014

Indian Musical Instruments

Indian musical instruments can be broadly classified according to the Hornbostel–Sachs system into four categories: 
chordophones (string instruments), 
aerophones (wind instruments) , 
membranophones (drums) and 
idiophones (non-drum percussion instruments).

Chordophones

Plucked Instruments

Taus
  • Bulbul Tarang
  • Dotar, Dotora, or Dotara
  • Ektara
  • Getchu Vadyam or Jhallari
  • Gopichand or Gopiyantra or Khamak
  • Gottuvadhyam or Chitravina
  • Katho
  • Santoor
  • VIOLIN
  • Sarod
  • Sitar
  • Surbahar
  • Surshringar
  • Swarabat
  • Swarmandal
  • Tambura
  • Tumbi
  • Tuntuna
  • Magadi Veena
  • Mohan Veena
  • Nakula Veena
  • Nanduni
  • Rudra Veena
  • Saraswati Veena
  • Vichitra Veena
  • Yazh
Chord percussion:
  • Gethu or Jhallari
  • Gubguba
  • Pulluvan kutam

Bowed


Ustad Mahmood Khan Sarangi Player From Kirana Gharana

Tribal fiddle instruments called "Dhodro Banam" used by Santhal people in Eastern India.
  • Chikara
  • Dilruba
  • Esraj
  • Kamaicha
  • Mayuri Vina or Taus
  • Onavillu
  • Pena or Bana
  • Pulluvan pattu - one stringed violin
  • Ravanahatha
  • Folk sarangi
  • Classical sarangi
  • Sarinda
  • Tar shehnai

Aerophones

  • Alghoza - double flute
  • Bombashi or Bommbanshi

Single reed

  • Pepa
  • Pungi or Been

Snake charmer playing pungi

Double reed

  • Kuzhal
  • Nadaswaram
  • Shehnai

Flute

  • Bansuri
  • Sundari
  • Tangmuri
  • Venu (Carnatic flute) Pullanguzhal

Bagpipes

  • Mashak
  • Titti
  • Sruti upanga

Free reed

  • Gogona
  • Morsing

Free reed and bellow

  • Shruti box
  • Harmonium (hand-pumped)

Brass

  • Ekkalam
  • Kombu

Other wind instruments

  • Ramsinga

Membranophones

Hand drums[edit]

  • Dhad
  • Damru
  • Dholak
  • Duggi
  • Ghat singhari or gada singari
  • Ghumot
  • Gummeta
  • Khol
  • Maddale
  • Maram
  • Mizhavu
  • Mridangam
  • Pakhavaj
  • Pakhavaj jori - Sikh instrument similar to tabla
  • Panchamukha vadyam
  • Pung
  • Shuddha madalam or Maddalam
  • Tabala / tabl / chameli - goblet drum
  • Tabla
  • Tabla tarang - set of tablas
  • Tamte
  • Thanthi Panai
  • Thimila
  • Tumbak, tumbaknari, tumbaknaer

Tumbaknaer, goblet drum from Jammu and Kashmir

Chenda (top) and Chande (below) are different drums.

Hand frame drums

  • Daff, duff, daf or duf - medium or large frame drum without jingles, of Persian origin
  • Dimdi or dimri - small frame drum without jingles
  • Kanjira - small frame drum with one jingle
  • Kansi - small without jingles
  • Patayani thappu - medium frame drum played with hands

Stick and hand drums

  • Chenda
  • Dollu
  • Dhak
  • Dhol
  • Dholi
  • Idakka
  • Thavil
  • Udukai

Stick drums

  • Chande
  • Nagara - pair of kettledrums
  • Pambai - unit of two cylindrical drums
  • Parai thappu, halgi - frame drum played with two sticks
  • Sambal
  • Stick daff or stick duff - daff in a stand played with sticks
  • Tamak'
  • Tasha - type of kettledrum
  • Urumee

Idiophones

  • Chimpta - fire tong with brass jingles
  • Chengila
  • Elathalam
  • Geger - brass vessel
  • Ghatam and Matkam (Earthenware pot drum)
  • Ghungroo
  • Khartal or Chiplya
  • Manjeera or jhanj or taal
  • Nut - clay pot
  • Sankarjang - lithophone
  • Thattukazhi mannai

Melodic

  • Jal tarang, ceramic bowls with water
  • Kanch tarang, a type of glass harp
  • Kashtha tarang, a type of xylophone
  • Loh tarang, a set of metallic plates

Electronic

  • Electronic tanpura
  • Talameter

Wednesday, 21 May 2014

Kanyadaan

In the Hindu tradition there are many rituals and customs that are involved in a wedding. While the groom is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the bride is considered to be a form of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. Therefore, giving the daughter away (orkanyadaan) is a very emotional as well as a religiously significant act for the bride's parents in an Indian wedding.
It is a moment in every wedding that is charged with emotions, as the father makes the ultimate sacrifice by giving away his beloved daughter into the care of another man, her husband, for lifetime. Come with us as we take a journey into the emotional and religious significance behind thekanyadaan ceremony of a traditional Indian wedding.

Emotional significance of giving the daughter away


To understand why kanyadaan is so emotionally charged, it is important to understand how a father feels for his daughter. This is something that is not unique to India, for it is a global emotion that fathers share a special bond with their daughters while the mother and son have a close bonding. Even the most possessive and rigid father is known to melt under the sweet smile of his daughter. Fathers consider their little girls as the most prized possessions, and take great care in their upbringing. They are also the ones who pamper all their wishes, despite the scolding from the mother! So close is their bond that the thought of just handing her over to someone else can be heart-wrenching. However, it is a fact of life that every Indian wedding must have a kanyaadan.

Moment of kanyadaan at an Indian wedding

Though this particular ritual of handing over the responsibility of the daughter to another is not peculiar to Hindu tradition, it is definitely given more importance due to its religious implications. A typical Indian wedding starts with the usual pomp and festivity, with everyone cheering the bride and the groom through the different rituals. Even the seven vows that the couple takes around the holy fire, is something that brings on some teasing and smiles. However, the atmosphere completely transforms when the father of the bride places her hands into the groom's.
For the father of the bride, this is a symbol that he is now transferring his daughter's responsibility to the groom. Considered as the noblest donation possible by a couple, giving away of the “prosperity” of their life, is an emotional moment for everyone who is present.

Religious significance and ritual of kanyaadan

As the groom is considered to be Lord Vishnu at the time of the wedding, kanyadaan is the biggest offering that any parent can ever make to the God. It is believed that kanyadaan purifies the parents’ of the bride of all their sins (even those that they might have committed in their previous births).
It is also a ritual where it is stressed for the groom that his bride is the most precious “gift” that he will ever receive in his life, and he has to honour her and cherish her likewise. The groom promises to take care of their daughter, forever.
Taking place just before the mangalpheras, during this ceremony, the father of the bride places her right hand in that of the groom’s, this is known as hastamilap. Along with this, betel leaves, betel nut, flowers, dry fruits, conch, gold and money are also placed in their hands. After this, holy water or milk is poured over their palms, as the holy verses are being recited by the priest.
The groom then places his hand on the right shoulder of the bride, as his way of taking on her responsibilities. All this symbolises that their fates and lives are now interlinked. In certain communities, after this, the hands of the bride and the groom are tied together with a white cloth to secure their bond from the evil eye. The groom holds the bride’s hands even as they take the pheras, and recite the holy vows of togetherness.
The Hindu traditions place a lot of stress on fasting, before participating in any religious event. In most communities, parents of the bride observe a fast before making the ultimate donation or "daan” of their daughter.
Source: Yahoo