[9mm_fan]

Why do we prostrate before parents and elders?

Indians prostrate before their parents, elders, teachers and noble souls by touching their feet. The elder in turn blesses us by placing his or her hand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily, when we meet elders and particularly on important occasions like the beginning of a new task, birthdays, festivals etc. In certain traditional circles, prostration is accompanied by abhivaadana, which serves to introduce one-self, announce one’s family and social stature.

Man stands on his feet. Touching the feet in prostration is a sign of respect for the age, maturity, nobility and divinity that our elders personify. It symbolizes our recognition of their selfless love for us and the sacrifices they have done for our welfare. It is a way of humbly acknowledging the greatness of another. This tradition reflects the strong family ties, which has been one of India’s enduring strengths.

The good wishes (Sankalpa) and blessings (aashirvaada) of elders are highly valued in India. We prostrate to seek them. Good thoughts create positive vibrations. Good wishes springing from a heart full of love, divinity and nobility have a tremendous strength. When we prostrate with humility and respect, we invoke the good wishes and blessings of elders, which flow in the form of positive energy to envelop us. This is why the posture assumed whether it is in the standing or prone position, enables the entire body to receive the energy thus received.
The different forms of showing respect are :

Pratuthana - rising to welcome a person.
Namaskaara - paying homage in the form of namaste
Upasangrahan - touching the feet of elders or teachers.
Shaashtaanga - prostrating fully with the feet, knees, stomach, chest, forehead and arms touching the ground in front of the elder.
Pratyabivaadana - returning a greeting.

Rules are prescribed in our scriptures as to who should prostrate to whom. Wealth, family name, age, moral strength and spiritual knowledge in ascending order of importance qualified men to receive respect. This is why a king though the ruler of the land, would prostrate before a spiritual master. Epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata have many stories highlighting this aspect.

[Lillie_Steins]

Dear all,

we may say that ritualism is only the husk of religion. But without the husk the seed will not grow. When the sower goes out to sow, he takes paddy and not rice. He knows that, if the husk is removed, life goes out of the seed and his sowing will be in vain. Thus ritualism has some vital functions assigned to it in religion.

Shall We discuss about our Hindu Rituals & Why are we following rituals and what is the meaning behind it ???

[radikal]

We have a lot rituals which basically are believed to be simply of no use .... but NO .... every ritual has an inner meaning ! Everything is having a scientific background !
U might say, when u ask the meaning of some ritual, your parents are not able to say that ! The meanings of do n donts, rituals are written in Vedas, n one who knows Vedas, would really know the true meaning of all these ....... May be they do not knw, or they might not have asked their elders .....
The current generation are really open minded, would accept anything when their questions are answered ........

Some more to add to your thread !

Why do we Chant AUM or OM ?

Om is one of the most chanted sound symbols in India. It has a profound effect on the body and mind of the one who chants and also on the surroundings. Most mantras and vedic prayers start with Om.

All auspicious actions begin with Om. It is even used as a greeting - Om, Hari Om etc. It is repeated as a mantra or meditated upon. Its form is worshipped, contemplated upon or used as an auspicious sign.

Om is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically as in "around"), U (phonetically as in "put") and M (phonetically as in "mum"). The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A". With the coming together of the lips, "U" is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in "M".

The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond.

The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two Om Chants. Om is also called pranava that means, "that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised". The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word Om. It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake. The Om chant should have the resounding sound of a bell ( aaooommm).

Om is written in different ways in different places. The most common form symbolizes Lord Ganesha's. The upper curve is the head; the lower large one, the stomach; the side one, the trunk; and the semi-circular mark with the dot, the sweetmeat ball (modaka) in Lord Ganesha's hand. Thus Om symbolizes everything - the means and the goal of life, the world and the Truth behind it, the material and the Sacred, all form and the Formless.

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

Good Work n a Good Start

We have a lot rituals which basically are believed to be simply of no use .... but NO .... every ritual has an inner meaning ! Everything is having a scientific background !
U might say, when u ask the meaning of some ritual, your parents are not able to say that ! The meanings of do n donts, rituals are written in Vedas, n one who knows Vedas, would really know the true meaning of all these ....... May be they do not knw, or they might not have asked their elders .....
The current generation are really open minded, would accept anything when their questions are answered ........

Some more to add to your thread !

Why do we Chant AUM or OM ?

Om is one of the most chanted sound symbols in India. It has a profound effect on the body and mind of the one who chants and also on the surroundings. Most mantras and vedic prayers start with Om.

All auspicious actions begin with Om. It is even used as a greeting - Om, Hari Om etc. It is repeated as a mantra or meditated upon. Its form is worshipped, contemplated upon or used as an auspicious sign.

Om is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically as in "around"), U (phonetically as in "put") and M (phonetically as in "mum"). The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A". With the coming together of the lips, "U" is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in "M".

The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond.

The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two Om Chants. Om is also called pranava that means, "that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised". The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word Om. It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake. The Om chant should have the resounding sound of a bell ( aaooommm).

Om is written in different ways in different places. The most common form symbolizes Lord Ganesha's. The upper curve is the head; the lower large one, the stomach; the side one, the trunk; and the semi-circular mark with the dot, the sweetmeat ball (modaka) in Lord Ganesha's hand. Thus Om symbolizes everything - the means and the goal of life, the world and the Truth behind it, the material and the Sacred, all form and the Formless.

[Ifroham4]

Good Explanation bingleguy

The main Purpose of starting this thread is... I have so many doubts but I know that whatever we are following it has a deep meaning!

I always believe that whatever our ancestors follow we should also follow... am also following how much ever I can but I do not know the meaning...
I have many doubts to ask...
I also belong to current generation only but I never say that I wld accept anything when my questions are answered , becoz I feel when we start asking question which is not answerable by our elders, then we can’t teach anything to our next generation... so follow our rituals when ever you get the opportunity to learn the meaning learn it

[Slonopotam845]

The main Purpose of starting this thread is... I have so many doubts but I know that whatever we are following it has a deep meaning! That was a good intention indeed .... Infact some are blessed with grandpas n grandmas who are well versed in Vedas, one is me ! So probably there could be a place where something never goes un-answered ......

I also belong to current generation only but I never say that I wld accept anything when my questions are answered , becoz I feel when we start asking question which is not answerable by our elders, then we can’t teach anything to our next generation. Well the current generation i meant, are the kids, from 1 - 20 years.... They do the most of questioning these days .... we need to definitely carry some answer to our next gen, that is current gen !

Simply lets not follow rituals ...
Lets understand the meaning of the same n then do it !

Put forth ur questions .......ppl here on this HUB can try answering ur ques .........

[Ifroham4]

My First Question

Can ladies read Vedas..., some mantras are specifically for Gents only, why it is so?

[softy54534]

I also recall reading some recent news articles
about some parts in North-India where 'women priests' conduct
ceremonies such as marriage, upanayana etc.

I think times are indeed changing and there's equal opportunity
education and employment in these areas also.

But as far as I have heard or read, women are forbidden from reciting or reading the vedas including the 'pranava-mantram'. By reading of the puranas and the itihaasas they can attain to the same state or better than their male counterparts. Also they can chant quite a variety of mantras. By merely chanting 'rama-naama' they can achieve moksham.

Sabari or more recently Meera did not read the vedas. All that they
knew were Rama and Krishna and they are held in higher regard than someone who merely studied vedas in their times.

For women, I have heard that their "nitya-agnihotram", is their
cooking chores, their "nitya-karma" is taking care of the needs of
people at home and their "moksha-saadhana" could be reading of the puranas and chanting simple yet invaluable mantras such as the "rama-naama".

In this correspondence so far, there has beeen no direct quote from Vedas itself that lays down an injunction against ladies chanting the Vedas. What we know definitely is only that in the past, our ancestors were following the practice of ladies being Saha-dharmini's only, assisting their husbands in performing the vedic rituals.

There could be any number of reasons for the origin of this injunction against ladies. What we have to consider however, is whether there is any reason now to continue this past practice without reducing the sanctity of the Vedas. Our Dharma follows the healthy principle indicated long afterwards in the following lines of Tennyson in Morte d'Arthur:

Old order changeth, yielding place to new;
And God fulfills himself in many ways -
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.

Unlike other religions, Sanatana Dharma is a constantly evolving Dharma, much like the perennial and purifying river Ganga, renewing itself constantly and thereby continuing to remain fresh, current and pure. (It is still pure in the upper reaches in the Himalayas, as those who undertake the yatra to Badri will confirm!).

In the past, the custom might have been necessary and good, keeping in view the living conditions which prevailed in those days. So much has changed since then and in such radical ways too. By opting for continuing this old good custom, we might be denying the healthy development of interest in the Vedas and the spreading of vedic teachings in the present times. Many ladies who have excelled in academic persuits and engaged in public service are competent to study Vedic scriptures and contribute their profound thinking on various issues. Why deny the Vedas that we revere the active and dynamic support of 51% of the population and restrict it to Males only many of whom, perhaps, fulfill only the qualification based on gender. We need many more individuals of the caliber of Gargi, Maitreyi and Andal to propogate Vedic teachings in this materialistic-value-centered age and times.

Let us thank our ancestors for not prescribing a rigid, unchangeable constitution in the Vedas and barring the ladies for all times. For, if they had done so, our religion could not be the unique sanatana dharma that it is today -- with strenth and vitality that comes only through the medium of change, enabling more of us to choose and travel on the path to the changeless One.

[Lillie_Steins]

Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?

To Indians, knowledge is sacred and divine. So it must be given respect at all times. Nowadays we separate subjects as sacred and secular. But in ancient India every subject - academic or spiritual - was considered divine and taught by the guru in the gurukula.

The custom of not stepping on educational tools is a frequent reminder of the high position accorded to knowledge in Indian culture. From an early age, this wisdom fosters in us a deep reverence for books and education. This is also the reason why we worship books, vehicles and instruments once a year on Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja day, dedicated to the Goddess of Learning. In fact, each day before starting our studies, we pray:

Saraswati namasthubhyam
Varade kaama roopini
Vidyaarambham karishyaami
Sidhirbhavatu me sadaa

O Goddess Saraswati, the giver of
Boons and fulfiller of wishes,
I prostrate to You before
starting my studies.
May you always fulfill me?

[Big A]

Why do we have a prayer room?

Most Indian homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit and the Lord worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like japa (repetition of the Lord’s name), meditation, paaraayana (reading of the scriptures), prayers, and devotional singing etc is also done here. Special worship is done on auspicious occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and the like. Each member of the family - young or old - communes with and worships the Divine here.

The Lord is the entire creation. He is therefore the true owner of the house we live in too. The prayer room is the Master room of the house. We are the earthly occupants of His property. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.

The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner of our homes and us as caretakers of His home. But if that is rather difficult, we could at least think of Him as a very welcome guest. Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort, so too we felicitate the Lord’s presence in our homes by having a prayer room or altar, which is, at all times, kept clean and well-decorated.

Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our homes with us, we have prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no task can be successfully or easily accomplished. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions.

Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for resting, the drawing room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So too for the purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conducive atmosphere - hence the need for a prayer room.

Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.

[9mm_fan]

Prayer room is a very important thing in every house !

Many ppl who plan their houses today, give importance like a big hall that has all facililties, a nice bed room, kitchen n all those stuffs ... but forget about a prayer room !

This is the only place where u can really find the real meaning of PEACE .....

So friends, please keep some place aside in ur house for a prayer room !

[Slonopotam845]

Indians prostrate before their parents, elders, teachers and noble souls by touching their feet. The elder in turn blesses us by placing his or her hand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily,

Is it still??
In how many places in India, atleast in cities?
I'm not insisting tat prostrating b4 all elders (apart from parents) is a *must* but atleast we shud maintain our traditional 'namaskaram' whle greeting them......I mostly see 'hellos' & even 'hi's' (wich sound out of place in this context!) these days......!
I've made it a point to greet a 'namaste' to atleast women/elderly ppl.......most of them seem to be happy to acknowledge this gesture.....
Neways, altho I don't altogether dismiss them, my personal opinion on rituals in our religion is wat Swami Vivekananda says......religion is not in books, theories, rituals or dogmas......it is in being & becoming.

[Lt_Apple]

I dont thing now a days anyone does that.

I have never done that in my life nor have I scene anyone do it in real life. I also dont find people saying Namaskaram. With elders I always greet them by their title (uncle, grandfather in my own language ofcource).

[Ifroham4]

It is a custom in only a few particular communities!

[doctorzlo]

Originally Posted by Arthi Indians prostrate before their parents, elders, teachers and noble souls by touching their feet. The elder in turn blesses us by placing his or her hand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily,

Is it still?
Lambretta: You will be surprised to know it is still done, even in the US. Some of the Indian youngsters here wanted our blessings and insisted on prostrating. I had to yield even though I felt uncomfortable. They feel happy that they have our blessings.

[LottiFurmann]

Originally Posted by Arthi Indians prostrate before their parents, elders, teachers and noble souls by touching their feet. The elder in turn blesses us by placing his or her hand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily,

Is it still??
In how many places in India, atleast in cities?
I'm not insisting tat prostrating b4 all elders (apart from parents) is a *must* but atleast we shud maintain our traditional 'namaskaram' whle greeting them......I mostly see 'hellos' & even 'hi's' (wich sound out of place in this context!) these days......!
I've made it a point to greet a 'namaste' to atleast women/elderly ppl.......most of them seem to be happy to acknowledge this gesture.....
Neways, altho I don't altogether dismiss them, my personal opinion on rituals in our religion is wat Swami Vivekananda says......religion is not in books, theories, rituals or dogmas......it is in being & becoming. Hi Lambretta,
when I was with my parents, I used to bow down b4 going to school/college/examinations. Even today in Bombay my cousins( they are married and having kids ) b4 going to office they Stretched out and lying at full length along the ground.

[MannoFr]

Lambretta: You will be surprised to know it is still done, even in the US. Some of the Indian youngsters here wanted our blessings and insisted on prostrating. I had to yield even though I felt uncomfortable. They feel happy that they have our blessings.

Rajraj sir, good to hear abt these youngsters (r they from India or ABCDs btw?)
And btw, y wud u feel uncomf'ble abt it?

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

Lambretta: These are young couples with children from India and some of my Indian students . You feel uncomfortable when one couple wants it while others don't. I think they understood that and waited till everyone left or they came back to visit us. It is their way of saying 'thank you' for being there for them. We are uncle and aunty for them!
Some ABCDs touch the feet of the elders.

No need for 'Sir'. Raj is fine!

[9mm_fan]

Lambretta: These are young couples with children from India and some of my Indian students . You feel uncomfortable when one couple wants it while others don't. I think they understood that and waited till everyone left or they came back to visit us. It is their way of saying 'thank you' for being there for them. We are uncle and aunty for them!
Some ABCDs touch the feet of the elders.

No need for 'Sir'. Raj is fine!

Raj ! That was so awesome ! You are a Gentleman !

Well, i strongly support the very habit of prostrating before all good people ! But i too also strongly believe that the takers shld be really worthy enough to take the prostration ! Just age does not decide ! But the amount of Punniyam they do, the amount of pujas and good deeds they do ! The amount of annadhaanam they do ....all these matters !
As per certain rules, we are not supposed to touch their feet when u do namaskaram, except the feet of ur parents or grand parents ... for all others we shld not touch their feet ! Even gurus normally dont allow ppl to touch their feet !
Even today, just like Aarthi, i do prostrate before my parents n grandparents before goin to exams n on all auspicious days !

[radikal]

Well, i strongly support the very habit of prostrating before all good people ! But i too also strongly believe that the takers shld be really worthy enough to take the prostration ! Just age does not decide ! But the amount of Punniyam they do, the amount of pujas and good deeds they do ! The amount of annadhaanam they do ....all these matters !

Hmm....well I wudn't nec. think pujas wud, bingle.......I've lately lost faith tat they determine the spirituality/holiness of a person, young or old!
I wud take Swami Vivekananda's saying tat to judge the character of a gr8 person look at ther most ordinary/routine actions/behaviour rather than the greater performances.

As per certain rules, we are not supposed to touch their feet when u do namaskaram, Ohh....I didnt know tat u wernt supposed to so both at the smae time!