10.13.2009

Ritual - A science more than just a superstition

Sound, stone, darkness, light, water, flowers, incense, and most importantly the very sacred shrine that resides deep within the temple brings a glimpse of that mystical world that is fast leaving us.

Mysticism, is in that energy that we believe we derive our peace of mind from.
Mysticism is in that energy that we cannot explain even if we feel it.

Mysticism is in that energy that is charged when we mix sound with fire and water on material like stone and metal with a drop of color.
Mysticism is in that change in the environment that takes place after the ritual is performed.

Is there any equation in current day science that we are so strong in believing that can define this theory:


Sound + fire + water + stone/metal[prescribed] + fragrance + oil/ghee[natural extracts] = energy unknown but profound!

The constant in this equation is line + conductor of electricity[veins/nerves] + mind [Bhakti/concentration/meditation].

The catalyst in this equation is mollusks + color + fruit + cow + location


The result is the generation of an energy of such a kind whose nature cannot be defined by language as we commonly know it.


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Equation:
Sound - as defined by beeja mantra, small capsuled syllables that have been predefined and are not part of regular spoken language.

Fire - as defined by the oil that holds the flame in a lamp or as defined by the fire that is worshiped during sacrifice [homam/havan]


Water - as defined by an integral methodology of bathing the concerned element that holds the energy


Stone/metal/mud/wood - as defined by the stone [marble/stone from riverbed/black stone] or metal [gold/silver/copper/brass/iron - panchaloham idol] or [yantras of deities on metal plates] or mud/wooden idols


Fragrance - as defined by flowers and fruit and other offerings like incense


Extracts - as defined by oil/ghee/honey


Constant:


Lines - As defined by the mystical diagram representing a deity, encompassing their nature within it

Conductor of electricity/charge - As defined by the wiring within us [veins/nerves/blood]

Mind - The machine that keeps this experiment running constantly, should it have enough input in terms of Bhakti/concentration.

Catalyst:

Mollusks - Offering of water through sacred shells taken from the depths of the ocean

Color - The color depicted in matter like kumkum, ash, sandalwood, the dress color of the idol in worship [Devi is red]


Fruit - The essence derived from natural bodies for this experiment to sustain


Cow - A strong catalyst that delivers greater results with offerings of milk/ghee/curd/urine/excreta in certain prescribed ways.

Grass - As represented by Kusha or Darbha, to keep the purity of the location

Location - should be ideally remote/hill top/river side/lap of nature.


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Result of the experiment if performed continuously in the form of "ritual" or prescribed methodology has a good chance of rendering the human being energized, peaceful. If performed at certain times[Purnima/pradosham/Ammavasya] in long duration can charge the body further to be able to evolve into a greater realm of states that are yet to be discovered.

Seat of the experiment in material form - Divinity within a shrine
Seat of the actual experiment in the formless world - In the Mind of the person performing
.

Should we agree to accept this process as a scientific theory yet to be realized[by us of course] we might just respect our ancient system a little more than what we do mechanically at the moment.


This is serious methodology and not a superstition whose results are yet to be gathered and believed in. The methodology is called Puja in lay man language.

16 comments:

JC said...

As far as 'science' is concerned, as 'I' said earlier also elsewhere, it is the energy apparently generated within the temples - because of their shapes and orientation - which believably helps the devotee when she is inside, without her knowledge even...besides letting her forget for some time the routine life that eats away energy instead...it is like charging the battery even during the day, like one anyway gets done when in deep sleep...which also gets deprived in those who are too much involved in materialistic world during the day...

JC said...

And, although they have still much more to learn, the 'present day scientists' have also realised at least human brain's functioning like that of a super man-made computer (although still much inferior)...whereas, ancients realised the whole human body as an integrated computer, utilising 9 numbers computers (indicated through the use of word 'Navgrah'), 8 numbers, one each for control of one of the 8 directions, and the 9th - as a link between all these 8 numbers super computers - that control the upwards as well as downward directions, thus controlling the maximum achivable efficiency related with the particular Yuga or Era...

However, an average person also gets to reap the benefits, through guidance provided by the different Gurus...

JC said...

The Yogis, however, appear to have realised that irrespective of one's location, after having sufficient experience of the material world, and detaching oneself from the 'external world', while attempting to reach zero thought, one might eventually realise the 'supreme energy' (whose component is believed to be present within each human form), i.e., serve the believable purpose of human life on earth...

JC said...

A 'scientist' is aware of use of a variety of structural or even mathematical models for reaching at the likely behaviour of a prototype, say flow of water in a long and meandering river and say the resultant erosion at some particular reach, which is non susceptible of any particular defined equation to obtain the desired results...The wise ancients similarly realised man as a model of the universe, and attempted to predict one's behaviour over the particular life-span...for which they appear to have reached many paths, viz. astronomy, palmistry, Tarot cards, and so on, and even through direct reading of one's face!...

Kavitha Kalyan said...

SO totally agree with these points... but we live in such a noisy world of perceptions... Wow! its sure noise... so much so that we cant listen to the whisper of higher truth...

JC said...

That's why the 'wise anciencts' suggested becoming virtually deaf to the external noise! And, live life like a spectator of a drama...

JC said...

New delhi experiences extreme weather conditions thanks to its location being close to the desert in the west and hill stations in the north. As children, on holidays we children ritually played marbles, and such other outdoor games in the winters to take advantage of the sunlight and the energy it exchanes thanks to the solar cells in the human skin. Only later did 'I' learn through Acupuncture how there believably are windows in our skin, along 12 'channels' that are connected with 12 vital organs, on both sides, which when closed result in some malfunctioning of certain organs that get manifested as some ailment in the long run...and needles being good conductors of energy help in transferring energy from the atmosphere to the concerned organs(s) and bring relief...

JC said...

Happy Diwali, the festival of light, to all!

Kavitha Kalyan said...

Happy Diwali to all!!

JC said...

It was only after 'I' got an opportunity to learn to a certain extent about electronic/ personal computers - as necessary requirement arising at certain particular times during the 'service' that 'I' could see the similarities in the functions of these 'man-made' equipments and man himself. The latter being much more superior, although continuing through time immemorial and therefore believed 'primitive' to start with and more evolved in the 'present'!

And, the interesting part, however, is the apparent better realisation/ utilisation of human form by the 'ancients', although the 'present human race', engaged in ritualistic practices, continues to get a feeling of superiority over them due mainly to non availability of recorded data over a long duratin (due to 'vagaries of nature' and man's limited/ relatively negligible life-span, on the other hand)...

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Bart said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bart said...

There is a certain scholarship requested before one will be able to serve a temple as a priest/priestess, but finally is the performance of a liturgy more an art, than a science.

JC said...

Bart: The answer perhaps is seen in the necessary/ desired requirements from a candidate seeking even the smallest of small jobs in day-to-day life. And, in the long run, performance of all jobs result virtually in performance of rituals/ mechanical functions. Say, for example, when one drives a vehicle, one is conscious of his A,B,C (accelerator, brake, clutch) and the prerequisites for applying those...however, once someone gets the feeling one has become an 'expert', one does so unconsciously...both art and science become immaterial for the concerned, and he/ she might really not really be an expert or perfect!

JC said...

As per 'Hindu belief', a priest is considered a link, or a 'gana', between the 'common man' and the formless God (who is omnipresent, and is related with time and space zero)...

He/ she could be compared with a healer of a variety of physical illness, but dealing with 'spirits' ('evil' or 'good') - that believably are unseen - through the use of the 'panchtatva' that is the 'five elements', expressed as sky, earth, fire, water, and air, ie, the environment, maybe using 'mantra', 'tantra' or 'yantra'...Thus one can imagine that the job would necessary require one to have much higher all round knowledge - about everything, or at least a good knowledge of human psychology in order primarily to inculcate in the devotee faith in the believable supreme being who apparently lies dormant within each being (image of God), before one could learn/ teach how to 'activate' it! However, most of the time, when one attains some 'power', one might be tempted to use it for selfish purpose only, and hence selflessness at least is the primary requirement expected from a priest at all times...

Aswin Kini said...

A very beautiful article defining the importance of rituals. They say that chanting of mantras is good to the sub-conscious mind as well.

Words like OM have a strong connection with the soul. When chanted in a peaceful atmosphere, it does wonders to the person.