Ours in one of the oldest civilizations on earth and not to mention one of the most rich, intelligent and glorious. Our ancestors, through trial and error learned, invented rituals and applied "science" in every aspect of life. Right from the accurate technique of breathing and analysis (Ida, Pingala and Sushumna channels), the precise mix of spices in food and its overall apt composition for optimum nutrition, the correct time and ritual for bathing, the appropriate timing for any activity for that matter (you will welcome a guest who rings the bell of your house at 2 pm but most likely slap him if he does so at 2 am), the science behind the use of and affects of different colours, numbers and gemstones, directions, the position of the planets at the time of birth (for example summer babies have a slightly stronger immune system than winter babies because of the sun's position, exposure, distance at the time) the perfect yoga postures for healing any physical, mental or psychological problem and the precise technique and timing and duration for executing it for results, the raaga and the perfect timing and manner for singing it, the way to pray, the way to observe fasts and mostly why to do so, the scientific basis behind endogamy, exogamy affecting the health of the unborn child, etc., etc. The way to look at it was that the wise ancients set down an ideal way of doing things from morning till night and then even how to and how much to sleep. An ideal way for the most healthy and happy life, the way to conduct self and adopt rituals and lifestyle most suited to this body and its wellbeing. For example if you go swimming immediately after eating it is bad for you as against on an empty stomach. Rituals were not created to force one into doing something in fact the ancients, being such elevated, blessed, great spiritual beings, owing to their way of life, came from a place of absolute compassion and for the upliftment of the future generations. It breaks my heart that their such well researched science and pure intentions are tossed around ignorantly and disrespectfully labelled as "superstition." I did not understand it so it is stupid! When they had a life changing idea, a cure for a problem they wanted to document it and preserve it for the benefit of the coming generations, strangers like you and me who they had never even known or would ever know about, generations cropping up long after they would be dead, but they still wanted to help. For the sake of humanity. Spread the information to as many people as possible, selflessly, unlike today's world where the cure for a deadly disease may be available but withheld to create panic and artificial shortage and thus generate huge financial profits. The ancestors were not like that. They valued materialism but had the common sense to keep it in its place. They advocated need instead of greed. Every word, every action, every intention was purposeful and full of awareness.The reason I explain all of this is because one needs to understand where they were coming from. Ritual was not just doing a random fast haphazardly or speaking a mantra fast, distracted and without focussing on the meaning and intention of it. Rituals were also not just limited to prayers but intertwined with every aspect of life. Interconnected. It wasn't just an hour long yoga "exercise class" or forced to say a prayer and move on. They had a holistic approach to life. They believed every single thing in this giant cosmos is connected and coming from one source. That is why they gave the mantra "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" All world is one family. You cannot pollute the water resources or the atmosphere and then not expect global warming and water crisis to affect your life. A war happening at the far end of the world, far away from where you live may not impact you immediately but since you share the planet and its resources you cannot escape the consequences. They understood this. They lived by this. They had compassion for plants, animals, human beings, the future generations 5000 years ahead, everything. They were smart so studied and planned everything right to the minutest mind boggling detail and precision. Like an ancient saying that demons will get your head if you sleep facing north. What does this mean. The North and the South Poles constantly pull everything in their path. Including the large shifting Himalayan plate that caused Himalayas to be formed in the first place years ago. So now if a pull is so strong that it can cause an entire continent to shift imagine what it would do to this humble human body? Magnet pulls iron. Human body contains iron. Every night for 10 hours when you sleep facing north, you are allowing iron to accumulate in your brain, enough to gradually one day cause brain haemmorhage in sleep. Such a complex information passed down using a simple, easy to remember line or catchphrase so to speak. But people will believe it is superstition because all of this is not explained within that one simple line. (Just like the waxing and waning of the far away moon decides the tides here on earth, imagine the effects on human body made up of almost 70 percent water! Hence several rituals to benefit and heal from the different lunation cycles if followed correctly.) These may appear minor things in the large scheme of things like how does a planet like Jupiter that is light years away affect me? Well, a tiny crocin is enough to rid you of high temperature fever and body ache overall just like a tiny overdose of tiny medication enough to put a healthy person into coma or worse! The ancients understood the gross as well as subtle bodies that is why their science was so unprejudiced and accurate. Because they had an open mind. They believed what they could see. But they even realized eyes can be very limited hence deceptive and so to even believe and mostly try and understand all that you cannot see. Where the eyes will fail and deceive you. Like gravity, magnetic pulls, ultrasonic sounds, amoeba, Pluto, other galaxies, wind and different types of energy, heat, gross and subtle human bodies, etc. Can your eyes see all of this? But do all of these exist? Now even though that generation was way way smarter and wiser than us unfortunately that era did not have internet or smartphones. The only way to document such priceless information, data and proof was scrolls/ parchments made from wooden barks or cloth scrolls or hieroglyphics. Over thousands of years some of it was lost forever from wear and tear, war, weather, altered purposely and maleficently by vested interests, or simply changed because of blind prejudice and the Chinese whispers syndrome. That does not mean the knowledge that they passed down so selflessly, so generously, for our benefit is flawed in its essence. Damn, a yoga guru in that era found or invented a posture to minimize back pain and I am benefiting from it thousands of years ahead today! God bless his soul! They wanted to help. They wanted to share and not hoard the good useful information. Ritual is a regime, doing something repeatedly for optimum sustained benefit. There is a right way to do things for beneficial results and a wrong way to do things that will harm. Even bathing or workout is a ritual and as far as the older generation is concerned, there was a proper ritual for everything - prayer, food, workout sleep, biology, physics, astronomy, astrology, mathematics, arts, morals and values, everything. But you need to find out, in this age if adulteration where even milk or oil is not spared from mixture and toxic substances, how much of the rituals are as it is and were meant to be and how much of it has been Twisted, distorted, shaped and slapped completely out of its original form into something totally new and way too harmful instead. For example mixing aerobics with yoga, or hot yoga, doing any pose any time and in any improvised manner, without understanding consequences, this nonsense is our creation. Rituals were created after elaborate research. To give a very small example - Why do we apply tikka between the eyebrows? Why is it called the seat of the soul or third eye? What should be the substance of the tikka? Which finger to use to apply it and why? Everything was researched, tested and passed on. However, as rigourous they were in studying and laying down proper rituals, they were kinder in its execution owing to compassion. For example if a particular prayer needed the substance of gold but if one did not have the means, there were other cheaper alternatives provided but then again as stated, there is a good way to do things and then a great way! However intention and purity, compassion and common sense superseded even the most rigorous of rituals. In this day and age, verify if the rituals are pure and unaltered. Even though most rituals are largely universal and applicable to all, still see if they suit the present times, needs and circumstances. What was true in that generation may not be true now. For example they had access only to herbs and plants to cure an ailment like say for the heart. Today, in this advanced age there is are options like surgery available. But most importantly judge and analyze your thoughts at all times - remain aware whether they are your own thoughts or someone else's opinions. Whether they serve you or not. Simple.
- S. Chaudhary
(Written for Indispire topic #rituals)
