The traditions and conventions found in various countries and the religions of the world hold their own importance. Such traditions reflect the originality of a particular culture or mankind. Indian culture has impressed other civilizations and cultural groups in the world.
It is quite common witnessing youngers touch their elder’s feet to seek blessings in India. This gesture is a very common in the Indian tradition and is essentially an age-old custom of showing one’s respect to elders and those who are spiritually accomplished. Let us know the scientific reason behind this gesture.
History Of Charan Sparsh:
The act of bending down of touching one’s feet is called Charan Sparsh. There are a number of reasons behind the practice of touching the elders’ feet that indicate how wonderfully beneficial and meaningful this practice is. In Aryan culture, there is a well-set tradition of touching the feet of our father, mother, guru, teacher, elders and honorable seniors. That is the way of saluting them.
In our culture, there are specific occasions when a person is expected to touch his / her elders’ feet. These occasions include before one is departing for or arriving back from a journey, weddings, religious and festive occasions, etc. In earlier times, it was a like a custom in India for youngsters to touch their parents’ feet first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Though there are many who still follow this rule, the truth is that the tradition is now slowly waning away with time.
Concept From Mahabharata:
According to Yudhistra in Mahabharata says that when you touch the feet of the elders it makes you great and powerful each time you do so. The Atharva Veda says that when you touch the feet of the elders you are acknowledging that you are respecting their knowledge and you will be carrying forward their teachings to the next generation.
The Vedas also say that the process of learning is incomplete until you start it with touching the feet of the teacher and end it by touching the feet of the teacher. You must offer yourself to the teacher so that he can teach you all the knowledge that he has. It also mentions that the person touching their elder’s feet tends to become humble and respectful.
How to touch elders feet ?
The person bending down must bend down in front of them with the back hunched and hands stretching forward. But there are contradictory views about which hand should touch which leg. In accordance with the scriptures, our seniors and elders place their right hand on our head and bless us when we touch their feet. This blessed touch creates a complete circuit joining both the persons and current flows in a complete circle. An act of touching the feet of our elders gives strength, intellect, knowledge, and fame. There is also a scientific reason to back and support this conclusion. Let us jump into it.
Scientific Reason for Touching Elders Feet:
According to modern science, a human body contains negative and positive energy. It is also said that one part of the body will be filled with positive and the other half with negative energy. When you stand exactly opposite to the elder person positive part will be in front of negative part of the body and vice versa.
When you touch feet of a respected person, you are helping to sublime your own ego to a certain extent thereby making to purer and more calm person. And are blessed with strength, intellect, Knowledge and fame. You are indirectly losing your ego by touch others feet. The elderly person will, in turn, transfer their positive energy to you, when they place their hand on your head to bless you. Charan Sparsh is also considered a form of exercise and thus improves your health and fitness.
Touching elders feet is very closely associated with the Hindu traditions and it is followed by all across the country. There’s a reason behind the origin of each tradition, and sometimes it is backed by scientific reasons too. No matter where you go, it’s your culture that will define you.
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