Namaste
Hindus greet one another by joining hands at chest level and saying Namaste, with head slightly bowed. The ‘Na’ and ‘Ma’ in namaste (which literally means I bow to u) mean not mine, signifying elimination of our ego and embracement of modesty. The joining of hands communicates the feeling may our minds meet.
Lighting A Diya
Wake up take bath pray and light a Diya….this is the general Hindu morning routine…why do they do this????? Are they ignorant of something called as electric lamp???
Well traditionally an oil lamp has spiritual significance. The flame of Diya is a metaphor for knowledge that removes the darkness of ignorance. The oil in the lamp represents our wrong deeds and the wick is a symbol of our Ego. So lighting a lamp represents burning away your Ego and Wrong Deeds.
Puja Room
According to ancient Hindu theory, the lord resides in all of us and our house is actually his house, because God, who is the supreme creator, can never be a guest he can only be the owner. The ancient Hindu theory says it’s God who owns our house and the inhabitants are mere caretakers of the house and worldly possessions. Now, when God resides in our house shouldn’t we accommodate him? This is the reason why Hindus have a separate Puja room that is clean and well decorated.
Touching Elders’ Feet
Hindus prostrate before elders, parents and teachers by touching their feet, and in return elders place their hand on our head, which signifies blessings given by them. Touching elders’ feet portrays one’s respect for their superiority in age, maturity and experience. This routine, which is done almost everyday and especially during special occasions, symbolizes our humble acknowledgement and appreciation for elder person’s love, sacrifice and guidance.
No Feet Touching
Hindus consider touching someone with our feet as an obscene gesture. Hindu belief say humans are one of the most beautiful and pure living beings. Thus, touching someone with one’s feet, on which we stand and walk everywhere, is considered rude and disrespectful. Books Give us knowledge and therefore represent Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge. Thus, they are not to be touched by one’s feet.
Offering Food To God Before Self
It is believed that the Lord is complete, and total, while man is incomplete. Whatever exists is because of him. Hence, whatever is the fruit is also his. Offering food first to God changes our behavior towards food, as we learn to be satisfied with what we have, and we don’t demand, complain or criticize. Also, offering food to god makes our attitude positive and makes us believe that the food is now purified. It is said that when anything is eaten happily, the food does more good in body.
Let me tell u by my experience Food taste really better than ever….try doing it sometime.
Fasting
It is a common observation that almost every Indian fasts on certain day of the week. Well, a whole lot of energy goes in cooking, so when we fast we conserve this energy. Secondly, according to ancient Hindu theories, our Digestive System needs that occasional break from food so that it can repair and refresh itself. Thirdly, when we fast, we control our indulgence such an exercise helps us to control our senses and get a better grip of ourselves.
We say ‘
Lotus
The Lotus grows in muddy and slushy areas and is yet a beautiful flower that gives us the message that we too can remain whole and pure no matter how corrupted our surroundings are. Second, though the lotus plant grows in water, its leaf doesn’t get wet. This tells us we should be unaffected by sadness and happiness around us. Third, the lotus flower opens in morning and closes in night this is a mind metaphor signifying our mind opens with knowledge and clamps up without it.
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