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Sunday, February 21, 2010

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

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JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA
JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR
JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Dear Readers,

Radhekrishna!

We started discussion on a new question in the previous post i.e. “Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?” Let us know more about the same.

We Hindus have a lot of respect for books and knowledge. We address the same as Saraswati Devi or Goddess of Knowledge. 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 Knowledge. In fact, each day before starting our studies, there is a prayer which can be sung for giving respect to the Goddess of Knowledge:

Saraswati namasthubhyam
Varade kaama roopini
Vidyaarambham karishyaami
Sidhirbhavatu me sadaa

Meaning:

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

Moving to the next aspect of the same question, To touch another with feet is considered as an act of misdemeanor. Why is this so?

Man is regarded as the most beautiful, living breathing temple of the Lord! Therefore touching another with the feet is akin to disrespecting the divinity within him or her. This calls for an immediate apology, which is offered with reverence and humility.

….concluded

Section II: Information about Indian herbs

In this post, let us again look at a very commonly used vegetable in our day to day life. The name is Muli in Hindi, also called as Radish in English and Raphanus Sativus in Latin.

1. It is a tuber with sharp and acrid taste eaten as salad
2. If it is eaten raw with salad, it helps in digestion of food because of its carminative effect
3. It is an excellent diuretic
4. It helps in cases of stones in the gall bladder and the kidneys and the enlargement of the spleen

That concludes our post for the fortnight. Till the next post on 6th March,

Radhekrishna!

Sarvam Guruvaarpanam

Saturday, February 06, 2010

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

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JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA
JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR
JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Radhekrishna to one and all!

Let us discuss yet another question related to our Hindu customs and traditions in this post. The question is, “Why do we not touch papers, books and people
with the feet?”

If you have observed among Hindus, whenever one touches a book or any document, that person will immediately apologize in one’s mind. It is again something which one learns naturally through observing others doing it.

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 (Gurukula was the then called school where the children were sent to obtain knowledge. The system was thus that they had to stay at the hermitage of the Guru for several years till they completed the process of obtaining education. They were not allowed to visit their home till that time).

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.

…to be continued

Section II: Information about Indian herbs

In this post, the herb about which we will tell you is called as Karer in Hindi, also known as Caper Berry in English and Capparis Decidua in Latin.

1. It is a bushy plant growing to a height of 3 metres, having beautiful red flowers and fruit in size ranging from a Bengal gram to a plum
2. It’s unripe fruit is used for making pickles which relieves flatulence
3. It is a useful remedy for enlarged spleen
4. It kills intestinal parasites
5. Powder of the burnt wood of the plant made into a linctus with honey deals effectively with cough

That concludes the second section of our post. Till the next post on 22nd Feb, do keep chanting the Radhekrishna namam. Please give us your priceless feedback regarding our blog articles. We will be happy to receive your feedback.

Radhekrishna!

Sarvam Guruvaarpanam
 

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