CULTURAL QA 01-2024-08 All the BELOW QA are from Quora digest to me on 08-01-2024. Two good jokes are alsoincluded to avoid monotonous reading if any felt so.
Quora answers need not be 100% correct answers .Compiled and posted byR. Gopala krishnan, on 08-01-2024 Q1 Why is a pointed metal top fitted onmost of the Hindu temples? A1 Srivathsan,I love reading aboutphilosophical aspects of hinduism18h OM NAMAH SHIVAAYA -Why this metal rod? In all the templeswe have a pillar in front of the Garbhagraham or Moolasthanam which is known as Dwajasthambam or Kodimaram. In Sanskrit, theword Dwaja means ‘Flag’ that raises high. In the religious sense, whateverraises a man to a higher level of understanding and activity is a ‘Dwaja.’ The Dwajasthamba is consideredas the symbol of hope and desire to overcome one’s ignorance. Dwajasthambam is anindication of the spinal cord in our human body as told in Agamas. There aretotally 32 spiral bones in our spinal cord and even the flag pole has 32 rings. There are manyrules mentioned in the Agamas about the installing of this Dwajasthambam. Whenever we enterany temple, we will first encounter this Dwajastambham. The Dwajasthamba is believed to carry the power of the Godin the temple. The top portion of the flag staff has three horizontalperches or three branches pointing towards the Sanctum.These3 parts symbolizes or represents the Trimurthis – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The dwajastambham is normally made by using a single treeor single stone. They are decorated with eithergold or silver or bronze or most of the times with panchalokas. It is said that oneshould chant only the holy mantras and chant His name while standing in frontof the God in Garbhagraha. Our worries and wishesshould be told to god only in front of this Dwajasthambam. Lastly afterpraying to all the gods, men should perform the Ashtanga namaskaram while womenshould perform the Panchanga namaskaram in front of Dwajasthambam. My note- In some temples Dwajasthamba is erected everyyear during festival time. In such instances the prayer is made in theearmarked area. Manyfamily temples have no dwajasthambam or festivals. In these templesworship is done in front of the deity. An example is the Pandalam Sastha temple,family deity of Pandalam Royal family. No Dwajasthambam and no specialfestivals. In fact the temple is closed for 10 days when anymember of the royal family dies There are fewscientific reasons behind the structure of Dwajasthambam.Whenever lightning strikes, the metal arrestor (A device used to protectequipment from lightning, electrical storms, etc…), placed at such a highestpoint of the region, induces the charge to conduct through it. The metalarrestor then conducts the heavy electrical impulse directly to ground, thuspreventing the building from getting damaged. My note- OOn this account present days a rectangular fencing is made around theflag mast in Kerala temples, where rain is a frequent occurance nowadays. Q2 What are the key beliefs ofZoroastrianism? A2 Maryam Alizadeh, Bachelor in BusinessManagement, Oxford Brookes University (Expected 2026)Dec 13 Zoroastrianism is an ancient monotheistic religionfounded in ancient Persia (present-day Iran) by theprophet Zoroaster (also known as Zarathustra) around 1500 BCE. It is one of theworld's oldest monotheistic religions, predating Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Here are the keybeliefs of Zoroastrianism: 1. Monotheism: Zoroastrians believe in onesupreme deity, Ahura Mazda, who is the creator of all that is good and just.Ahura Mazda is often referred to as the "Wise Lord" or "Lord ofLight." 2. Dualism: While Zoroastrianism is fundamentallymonotheistic, it also incorporates a dualistic element in its worldview. AhuraMazda is opposed by Angra Mainyu (also known as Ahriman), the spirit of chaos,darkness, and evil. This ongoing struggle between good and evil is central toZoroastrian thought. 3. Asha (Truth): Zoroastrians believe that theuniverse is governed by Asha (Truth), which is the divine order of theuniverse. By following the path of Asha, one aligns oneself with the forces ofgood and contributes to the victory of Ahura Mazda over Angra Mainyu. 4. Threefold Path: The path of Asha is embodied inthe Threefold Path, which consists of: Good Thoughts: Zoroastrians strive to think pure,positive, and helpful thoughts. Good Words: They also strive to speak truthfully,kindly, and honestly. Good Deeds: Finally, they strive to act with integrity,compassion, and justice. 5. Free Will: Zoroastrianism emphasizes theimportance of free will. Humans have the ability to choose between the path ofAsha and the path of Druj (Deception), which leads to darkness and evil. 6. Judgement After Death: Zoroastrians believe thatafter death, individuals are judged according to their actions in life.Thosewho have followed the path of Asha will be rewarded with a blissful afterlife,while those who have chosen Druj will be punished. 7. Resurrection: Zoroastrians believe in theresurrection of the soul and the eventual destruction of Angra Mainyu and theforces of darkness. In the end, Ahura Mazda and Asha will triumph, and theuniverse will be restored to a state of perfect harmony. Zoroastrianism has had a profound influence on thedevelopment of other religions, including Judaism,Christianity, and Islam. Its emphasis on monotheism, free will, and thestruggle between good and evil has resonated with believers across cultures andthroughout history. Q3 What are some things that happen onlyin India? A3 Vijay Godhi,Lead - Supply ChainUpdated3y Couple of monthsback. I was in Mumbai to visit my friend’s dad who was in hospital for asurgery. Since the hospitaldidn’t have parking, I had to park my car on the road side which is whereusually everyone parks their vehicles. Below is the image - locationof where I had parked my car. I met my friend’sdad and came back 2–3 hrs later to see that my car had disappeared. I was shocked. InitiallyI thought I was looking for my car at the wrong place. I searched the wholestretch of road and my car was nowhere. I came back to the place where I hadparked by car and was thinking. I thought my car was stolen and I need to approach the police and makea complaint. Just then a cab driver had parked his car at the samelocation and he kept watching me. After couple ofminutes, he approached me and asked what’s the problem?. I told him my concernand said it looks like my car is stolen. I was surprised then he just smiledand said no sir, your car is not stolen but it’s towed andwill be in the near by police station. I said “WHAT” !!Why ?? . The cab driver said sir. You have parked in a place which is reservedfor cabs. Now, look at piccarefully …. That board saysthis place is reserved for cabs. Can anyone really see this !!! I for sure couldn’tsee this. The cab driver directed me to the nearby police stationand I got my car back. Thought I had to pay a fine forparking illegally. When I showed them the pic of location , the police officer said “ I know that board is not visible and we haveinformed the concerned authorities to make it more visible but that’s not ourdepartment. You have to pay the fine now” One thing what I liked is the cop at the station didn’taccept any cash as mode of payments for fine. Only cards are accepted.And a proper acknowledgement is given. When I asked why no cash, he had asimple answer - cash means people will try to bribe us and not payfines. My experiencewas a good one. Cops spoke nice and were not rude. Why did I writethis here - becausethis can only happen in India where the board is not visible and still you endup paying … LOL Edit 1: Assuggested, the area was in Bandra near Leelavati Hospital. Q4 Why is it prohibited in mostHindu families, to visit temples for a few days if someone in the family hasdied? A4 Srivathsan,I love reading aboutphilosophical aspects of hinduism18h Prohibition to temples - Science or superstition In Hinduism, eachevent has a traditional history. Birth and Death are one such part of theseevents, whenever some person dies or whenever a new child is born,Hindus follow the tradition of Sutak. Sutak is the period of abstention observedby the Hindus after birth or a death of a family member. SUTAK DURING BIRTH Sutak is observedduring the time, when a child is born. The family members of the new born observea period of Sutak for ten days. They restrict themselves from going to templesand attending any ceremonies, etc. Though, the overall environment is jubilantand joyful. The mother of the child is restrained to go inthe kitchen and the newborn is not brought outside of the home. Afterthe delivery, the mother does not mix with people and remains confined to thehouse. Family members call a priest for the spiritual Puja. Sweets and othergifts are distributed among the people. Scientific Aspect A woman after giving birth to a child becomes very weak andtired. She requires a period of great rest, so that her body replenishes thestrength,lost while giving birth. Her body also secretes many fluids and odor, thus sheis refrained from entering or using the kitchen for cooking. She is confined to her roomfor a period ten to fourteen days, so that her body recovers well. Sheis not allowed to work and do any task because of this reason only. Traditionally,the period of Sutak is ten days for Brahmins, twelve for Kshatriyas, sixteen totwenty days for Vaishyas and thirty days for Shudras.As in the medieval times, women of Shudra caste had to do a lot of physicalhard work in the fields and homes of upper caste people. Their bodies didn’tremain in great shape due to the physical stress and poverty. This was thereason that their Sutak period was the longest, so that their bodies completelyrecover to sustain their daily chores. The Sutak period of other castes was also relative totheir work nature. Moreover, thenewborn child is very sensitive and fragile to infections. Its body is notimmune to antigens and its immunity develops slowly with time. It could catchinfections from the people around it. That’s why, Sutak forbids touching orgoing near the newborn for ten to thirty days. Our ancient system made sure theproper development of every newborn child with the help of Sutak. In moderntimes, doctors keep weak infants in incubators for weeks, so that their bodiesslowly acclimatize to the earthly environment. But, Hinduism had this systemthousand years back in its own style. SUTAKDURING DEATH Sutak observed during Death is also known as Patak.It is the period of renouncing daily life activities for twelve to sixteen daysafter the death of a family member. It is observed by all the family membersand relatives of the dead individual. Accordingto the Garuda Purana, when someone dies, the family must observe Patak fortwelve days. Theyshould call a priest to narrate the Garuda Purana and dictate them the rulesand regulations of Patak. The execution of Patak includes restrictionto – any worship or Puja of a deity, recitation of holy books, consuming spicyfood, visiting temples, attending a public function or a ceremony, and exchanginggifts. On the thirteenthday, the “kriya” ceremony is observed, narration of the Garuda Purana isconcluded and that ends the Patak period. The belongings of the dead person including its new and old clothes aredistributed among the poor and needy. Scientific Reason Observation ofSutak after the death of a family member is a highly meaningful ceremony. As death may occur due to any reason – Sickness, disease, old age,accident, etc. The duration of Patak is corresponding to the reason of death. If a person diesfrom a serious sickness, the environment of its home could be very contagiousfor others. So, the people gathered there for mourning,must take a bath after returning to their respective homes to ensure hygiene. Even after cremation of the dead body, a bath is compulsory according toour traditions. Scientifically, the fumes and ashes arising from theburning pyre may infect us. Thus, a proper bath and change of clothes preventsuch a case. Even the family members of the dead individual may actas carriers of the infection. Scientifically, a “carrier”is a person who himself is not infected by the disease but may transfer thedisease into another person by coming into direct contact. That’s whyto prevent such a happening, Patak is observed and the family members areforbidden to attend any public ceremonies, visit any temple and go out morefrequently. Only, because their contact with others mayresult in spread of a sickness. In ancient times, Patak acted as a greatmethod to quarantine such sicknesses. But today, ignorance has blindedour thought process and we consider it as a superstition. Moreover, If afamily member dies in a foreign country, irrespective of the reason of thedeath. No abstention for twelve days is observed by its family. Only a bathcompletes the Patak. Ancient Hindu scholars and scientists had researched onevery issue and life aspect deeply. They had devised propertechniques and methods to cope up with differing circumstances in a scientificand rational manner. But with time, our society has started to forget ourtraditions and started to label them as mythology or superstition. We tend tofollow the western lifestyle, culture and ethics but in return we aredisgracing and disrespecting our rich cultural heritage. Sutak and Patak are traditional ceremonies with greatscientific logic incorporated into them. I hope this postclarifies and breaks all the myths surrounding them. My note- Earlier in Kerala temples there used tohave a black notice boardintimating no entry for those having, Pula, Valaima, or on menses. For reasonsnot known now no such noticeboard is there. However Pula is observed by all family membersand going to temple Only after sama44radhana. Valaima is observed only veryclose family members. Q5 Do you know a joke about a son fleecinghis father? A5 ,Andras Lu15h Brad's first yearaway at university was a lot of partying and paying for his friend's. He quickly runs out of money.His father would not be pleased with his wastefulness, so Brad sends him amessage stating he has a professor that can teach his father's doghow to read and write for a bargain price. The father can't believe theadvances the school has made, but also can't pass up the opportunity. Brad soon receives his dog and the money, but promptly burns throughit again. This time hisfather is sent another message that another professor of Brad's canteach the dog to talk to people for more money. Brad again receives themoney. Soon the father is bragging toeveryone in town about how when Brad comes home with the dog, the dog can notonly read and write, but can also converse with everyone. Word spreads and atthe end of the school year a hugethrong of people are waiting to see the dog arrive at the train station. However, neither Brad nor the dog are to be seen. The fatherlooks off at the caboose and sees a slumped shouldered Brad slowly get off the train. The father runs to greet his son and asks where the dogis.Between whimpers Brad tells him that, while they were ridingthe train back home, the dog put down the newspaper he was reading and said,"Brad, I'm so glad I can speak. Because now I want to tell your motherwhat I saw your father and the housemaid doing when she wasn't around. " Brad told his father, "I got so angry...Igrabbed that dog by the neck and threw it off the train. We must have beengoing 100. There's no way it could have survived." Brad's fathergrasped him by the shoulders and looked directly into his eyes before saying,"Son, are you sure that lying dog is dead?" Q6 What and why do some people whisper inNandi's ears at Lord Shiva temples? A6 Srivathsan, I love reading aboutphilosophical aspects of hinduism18h SUPERSTITION BUTWHY PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECT OF NANDI BHAGWAN According to ourSanatan dharma, the purpose of human life is to attain moksha which can begained by controlling our Indriyas or senses. Moksha can also be defined asmerging Jeeva or Individual soul with the supreme god. Our scriptures have deepsignificance in all the symbolic forms. Similarly; Linga is the symbol of thesupreme God and Nandi is the symbol of Jeeva or the individual soul like us. By constant devotion, Nandi theJeeva merges with Linga the Eeshwara to become Nandeeshwara. Thus, thesitting position of Nandi is the symbolic form of stability and realizingoneness. So it explain the jeeva and paramatma concept. WHY WHISPER ? One such story is about Jalandhara, a demon whocomes in stories about both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The tale says that, once when Lord Shiva wasmeditating, Jalandhara kidnapped Parvathi. All the other Gods tried toinform Lord Shiva about this but failed. Lord Ganesha himself couldn’t wake upLord Shiva from Dhyana / Meditation. After thinking for a while, Ganesha then thought to tell this to Nandiwho was sitting in front of Ishwara. Lord Ganesha then narrated theentire thing in Nandi’s ears and Nandi conveyed the whole thing to Lord Shiva. >From then, thepractice of speaking wishes in Nandi’s ears started, and is >believed thatwhatever we speak in his ears will be conveyed to the Lord >directly. IS IT GOOD? Actually no. Nandi bhagwan has ears and Shiva isall pervading that one can stop putting post letters or telegrams through nandibhagwan. It is just a mere SUPERSTITION as none of our scripturesadvices us to do so. OM NAMAH SHIVAAYA Q7 Do you know a joke about a priest and anun? A7 Andras Lu,Sep 17 A priest and ayoung nun are on a journey in the Alps. On their journey they are surprised bya huge snowstorm. Fortunately,they can fight their way to an empty hut. Once there, they prepare forthe overnight stay. There'seven a whole closet full of blankets and a sleeping bag, but only one bed.As a gentleman, the priest of course knows what is appropriate and says to thenun: "Sister, sleep in bed. I'll take the sleeping bag." The priest has justzipped up his sleeping bag and closed his eyes when he hears from the bed: "Father, I'mcold." The priest frees himself from the sleeping bag, grabs another blanket and spreads itover the nun. Then he mumbles into his sleeping bag for the second timeand begins to slip back into the realm of dreams. Some five minuteslater you can hear it again: "Father, I'm still cold." The same procedure: Thepriest crawls out of the sleeping bag, spreads another blanket over the nun andgoes back to sleep. He has just closedhis eyes when she says again: "Father, I'm soooooooo cold...!" This time the prieststays where he is and replies, "Sister, I have an idea. We're cut off fromthe outside world up here and not a soul will ever know what happened heretonight!" He grins mischievously and adds: "We could just pretend we're married..." The nun hassecretly been waiting for this with hope and breathes: "Oh yes... that would be nice." The priest thenshouts: “Then get up and get your damn blanket yourself!” -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1636830318.4995958.1704696140594%40mail.yahoo.com.
