India is one of the countries where people wear symbols (A Lot of).
- We have people wearing the Bindi/Thilak ( aka Pottu in South India, Dot in the Western world) in their forehead.
- People smear the Holy Ash on their forehead and some do it with symmetry. Some have the stripes veritically on their forehead and some have it horizontally.....3 stripes.!!.
- Women after marriage wear a Mangalsutra. ( In the western world men and women wear a wedding ring.
- Some men wear a Sacred Thread around their chest.
- How did all this start? Why are these being followed ( forced to?) even now in this 21st century. Does it have any merit?
- On the Mangalsutra and the ring - Is it a way of telling the world that the man/woman wearing it is taken.!! Does it really work? Do these people love each other more than those who don't wear it? Will a wedding last with this or won't it last at all without it?.
I am wondering why.?
I don't believe in all this.
I don't wear anything.
Am I the Black Sheep!
11 comments:
Venkitu... Matha symbols pathi enaku theriyadhu... Annaa ponnuga pottu vachalae oru thani azhagithan.
I was wearing a sacred black thread around my hips...:))) u know what i mean. Still i dont understand y i did that...
Hi Narayanan, what you have expressed depends on one's personal belief. You don't believe in such things but someone else might. I don't know about the culture there but in India as you know such things hold a special significance. However, we have a democratic society and can express or not express our beliefs as per our desire. If mangalsutra means something to a person she wears it, if someone feels that her relationship does not have to depend on such things and trust is main she would quit wearing it.
By ways, Venkat, I am myself not a Puritan but you cannot trash someone's ideology saying its "bullshit" just because you don't agree with it. If you don't like it, don't follow it, but have some respect when you express your disagreement.
Maybe kichami sir can shed more light on this issue...
Adengappa...
Narayanan, all these were created with some purpose obviously that served (those times in which they were created) well. But people have started questioning all of this in a "modern world maya" :-)
I am reminded of a dialogue in one of the movies that came a few years back, in which Goundamani will act normal while he has "maalaikkan vyaadi". At one point he will ask Oru Viral KrishnaRao if all these "sadangu"s are necessary in a computer world and Krishna Rao will say "enna thaan kaalam maarinaalum appavai appannu thaane kooppidarom, ammavai ammannu thaane kooppidarom". I think that sums up what I wanted to say :-)
Venkat - You too..!!! Good luck.
Freeavedu - Pottu - For azhagu, I can accept that.
Murthy - Varuga Varuga - nandri. Viravil oru Tamizh Blog thodangalam endru yosikkiren.
Kay - Its for the Loin cloth my friend ( komanam - in tamil ). Started for that I guess.!!!
Amrita - I agree. But my question is ..Why? Why? Why? Any reasons? how did this start?
Thennavan - If someone tells you I-95 goes to Japan , will you take it? Same thoughts here.
Your Goundamani joke is funny.!!
Sacred Thread: it was the sling that was used to carry the deerskin, upon which the person sat to meditate. Is it realistic in the so-called modern era? Probably not. Is it symbolic? Totally yes. What do you lose by adhering to it? Nothing.
Bindi/Vibhuti/Sacred Ash: Made of either vermilion or turmeric or paddy-ash. Purported to prevent hypnotisation of the wearer, hence the spot just above the bridge of the nose. Variations of the same are what we see as the vertical and horizontal stripes. Again, a representation of faith, a belief that wearing it prevents others from taking control over you. Symbolism. Totally.
Like always, with most things, there is/was a reason for its existence. Just because we have moved onto the new world of the 21st century does not give us the right to blatantly ridicule/criticize/reject it.
These are expressions of faith and belief, and nothing more. If you are able enough to display faith and sustain belief without these, thats wonderful.
Jagan,
I agree.
My question is ....several ideas like this had a reason once upon a time. Can't we leave a few things out...which don't apply today?
Mr. Narayanan
This is there in many religions and in many countries. Take for example Jews, they stand as a classic example. Some (or many) of them wear black and white dresses and hats always. Christianity also has a lot of beliefs like this. They have a lot of symbolism in their marriages, just like hindus and muslims.
And this happens in under-developed countries, developing countries and in well-developed countries (maybe a little less in developed countries because people have time only to make money in these places). The real question is of belief in certain things. Do you believe in God? If you do, can you prove that there is such a thing as God? Again, it's just a matter of belief. If people believe strongly in something then that shows out in such forms. And some people believe that doing such things will reflect their feelings and emotions completely. God is a symbol too (and each religion has its own set of symbols for God), what would you say to that?
To some people it is all in the head, and to some it is external in the form of symbols. I think, it's all just a matter of personal preference.
TG, Good comments.
God - Idol worship - I tend to debate that. How to prove? Good question.?
I do agree that Jews exhibit. Christians don't do it as much I feel. Muslims we know, have the veil and all that.
Like you said it in the end ...its all personal preference.
Post a Comment