The mental and physical health benefits of the ancient Hindu practice of “Thopukarranams”

published on March 9, 2009

Thopukkaranams (in Tamil) were traditionally performed by Hindus in front of  the deity of Lord Ganesha, as part of the worship ritual. This practice involved crossing the arms in the front of the chest, and holding the right ear lobe with the left hand and the left ear lobe with the right hand, and performing a series of squats in front of Lord Ganesha, in the temple or the puja room at home.

 

It was also widely used in Hindu schools, especially in the old
times, as form of punishment for a erring child. The misbehaving child,
or one who has neglected to do his or her homework, would be asked by
the teacher to stand in the corner and do series of Thopukkaranams.

 

Now, the western scientists have found that this practice
stimulates the brain, and increases and improves intelligence, reduces behavioral problems in children, and minimizes the risks of age-related Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia.The scientific findings were reported in the CBS news in the US,
and can be watched at youtube.

[Please watch it before some
unscrupulous Christian  fanatic removes it, because it promotes a Hindu
practice.]

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSwhpF9iJSs

 

Some schools in the US, it seems, have adopted the practice of
Thopukkaranams in their classrooms to improve the intelligence and
academic performance of the school children. It is also being advocated
for older people to keep the mind sharp and active.

 

It is ironic that Hindu society, which came up with so many
ancient yogic practices that were often incorporated as part of the
daily worship ritual and were known to benefit the mind and body
greatly, has discarded these practices because they are viewed as
‘old-fashioned,’ whereas the western societies are discovering these
practice and attempting to adopt the same to improve the physical and
mental well-being of their people. 

It is a great pity that Christian schools in India adopted the European form of  corporal punishment
for correcting students, which involved slapping the child’s palm with
a stick, or caning a child mercilessly. On the other hand, Hindu
schools in rural areas or small towns used the Thopukaranams as a way
to correct the erring child. [As much as it sounds ludicrous, one does
feel like suing these Christian schools for denying generations of
Indians their rights to Thopukkaranams.]

 

As the above report states, it is never too late to start doing
Thopukarranams in front of Lord Ganesha, introduce such practices to
your children from very early age, and revive such practices in
schools. If you are teacher, then use Thopukkaranams to correct a
mischievous child, rather than hitting him with a stick or conking him
on the head. Such latter forms of corporal punishment are alien to our
culture.

 

In fact, if you must use a stick or cane, then do so liberally on the Christian evangelist
or missionary (Indian or Westerner) walking down your street. [So do
keep one on hand, or within easy reach, to be used on such unscrupulous
elements intent on destroying Hinduism, Hindu society and culture.] But
if you need to correct a Hindu child, then make use of the
Thopukarranams.