Scientific Sundays

We witness so many traditions in every culture. And you will find many beliefs which does not make much sense. But we have been following because our mothers and their mothers and their mothers have been doing it and passing the legacy.

A belief or faith or superstition are certain things or events that can bring good or bad luck. And Science is the application of knowledge and understanding of nature, which follows a method based on evidence.

Hinduism is full of traditions and beliefs; as and when we stepped in modern times, these traditions became superstitions as we missed the science or logic in it. It confounded me when my mother said don’t cut the nails in the evening as we do not consider it good. I did not understand the reason fully and followed her until I figured out why?

In olden times, people depended on lamps for light after sunset and it would have been difficult for them to cut nails in very limited light and to top that… there were no Nail-cutters, cuticle cutters, filers, etc. for nail beautification. They may cut nails with a knife, and later with scissors maybe until the invention of the nail-cutter.

Prohibiting cutting nails after dark is for the prevention of cuts and any corresponding infections. My mother must have used a nail cutter, but my grandmother may have not. It passed hence the legacy of belief.

Now we are in ultra-modern times and with science, the traditions and beliefs which we thought were not much sensible are now proving to be more logical.

A few of them which I come across and wanted answers for are:

· Our ancestors believed in eating before sunset, Jains still follows this.

· Why no onion and garlic or non-vegetarian food–when you are fasting?

· Why we eat non-vegetarian on certain days and avoid other days?

· Why not chew Tulsi leaves?

· God is present everywhere — then why go to temple and pray?

· In the olden days, men and women both had long hair, both pierced the ears and put a tilak on forehead. Gender discrimination led these beliefs go and said shringar (make up and ornament) were only for females.

· Why a girl / female was prohibited to go out during menstruating?

· Why still females do not visit temple during menstruating?

. Why a person is prohibited to go out of house when there is a death in family? Why are they asked to bathe immediately after the funeral?

Whoa… it’s a long, long list. Let us start with a simple one.

Chanting Om: While praying or in meditation, chanting OM is very common. When one pronounces OM properly, i.e. after taking a deep breath, it improves the concentration and alertness in us. The evidence is that it reduces blood pressure and control heart rates.

Sitting on the floor and eat: Every modern dietician and health coach suggest sitting on the floor and eat the meals. This tradition is sitting in the “Sukhasan” (lotus) position while eating. When we sit on the floor cross-legged–i.e. sukh asana or a half padmasana (half lotus), you will instantly feel a sense of calm and it also helps in digestion. The Yoga gurus have claimed that this position triggers the signals to our brain to prepare the stomach for digestion.

Interesting, isn’t it?

Let us meet again to see what other beliefs and traditions which we may have thought a myth has science behind it.

I am sure you too may come across such beliefs and traditions, which you always wanted an answer for. Or at least you want to answer your children if you ask them to follow it.

Share your belief /tradition with me and I will try to find a scientific answer to it.

Let us have more Scientific Sundays!