I recently came across this video online. It was titled “Super Brain Yoga- the Five Minute Exercise to Revitalize Your Brain”. Intrigued by the title, I chose to see it and what I saw left me amazed. It is amusing how the West come up with scientific explanations for practices Indians have been following since probably their inception. Super Brain Yoga happens to be our traditional thoppukaranam or Dvau Bhuja Karanam, a common practice in all Ganesh temples throughout the country. And worse, the West has patented this practice giving it the fancy name of Super Brain Yoga.
The traditional Thoppukaranam rejuvenates the chakras or energy centres present in our bodies. It generates scalar waves by balancing the right and left hemispheres of the brain. It is proven to improve mind sharpness and memory power. It is now being practiced in the USA by children affected with Down’s syndrome and has shown encouraging results. For ages, it has been a ritual in Indian temples. Almost every temple has a shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesh. Every person who visits the temple unmistakably performs the Thoppukaranam. Most of the Hindu rituals start with a salutation to Lord Ganesh and includes this practice.
This realisation made me wonder if Indians were indeed the undisputable leaders in terms of knowledge and Science. One distinct characteristic of Indians is their fear of God. Staunch believers of superstitions, we tend to follow anything that is associated with religion, blindly. Our ancestors exploited this trait of ours. Every practice which they believed beneficial, they associated it with God. Give the practice a story, give the people a reason, and tell them God will hate them if they don’t follow it. Well, people follow it with their heart and soul. Our ancestors never felt the need to divulge the goodness or benefits of our ancient practices. They were content as long as we followed them. Super brain yoga isn’t the only proof that our practices help us lead a better life. Every little practice and ritual have a meaning- a meaning that delves a lot deeper than the traditional belief of pleasing the Almighty.
Come festivals and marriages, mango leaves strung together and hung on the doorstep is a common sight. Traditionally, it is considered a sign of auspiciousness to welcome Goddess Lakshmi home. Mango leaves are the only leaves that retain the property of absorbing carbon dioxide even after being plucked off the tree. During times of festivals and marriages, family and friends flock together and the mango leaves help prevent suffocation and ensure enough oxygen.
Mixing cow dung and water to clean mud floors isn’t dirty. In fact, nothing can get more hygienic. It is the best known natural disinfectant and is hailed for its anti-bacterial properties. Cow dung contains Mycobacterium Vaccae. Apparently, this activates a group of neurons which contribute to feelings of well being and happiness.
We pierce our ears for a reason. They are acupuncture points that activate the brain. Ever wondered why guys don’t pierce their noses even though they pierce their ears? It is because it doesn’t serve a purpose for them. Nose piercings help strengthen the uterus. Want to give China the credit for chancing upon this discovery a few decades ago? The toe rings married women wear help them deal with emotions and mental trauma- Acupressure discoveries this time.
Squatting on the floor and eating with our hands have a huge medical impact. Firstly, the squatting posture aids the path of the food to the stomach. Our folded legs compress the intestines and provide more space for the bulging stomach. While eating, it is essential that all our sense organs are activated. Eating with bare hands activates the sense of touch which completely goes missing while using spoons or chop sticks.
These are mere examples that show us our tradition and culture is way beyond the rest. A little more research in this topic will leave us all mesmerized. Let us be traditional in our thoughts and modern in our outlook. Following our rich heritage should give us more pride than blindly aping the rest of the world. Let us be proud of our individuality. Let us show the world we our worth our mettle.
