transumptive "after" thoughts

Will I never cease to meet such people? I was having a few drinks with friends, well, not mine, but my man’s friends. I met another gentleman who just believes in Hinduism blindly. Now, just to clear the air, I’m not against ignorant people, but I do object when they try to sell their ignorance to me. Did you really expect me to buy that story? Somehow, during the final meal (the most precious meal of all, food after alcohol), we touched on the topic of a particular painting. The painting of Arjun on his rath. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about here’s a pic. Now, the story I was told by this gentleman of blind faith, is if you keep this painting at your residence it will be the cause of fights between the father and son of the house. And that is also the reason why most Hindu’s don’t keep this in their house. So am I to conclude that those who don’t have such a painting in their house have blissfully pe...

I realize how controversial this subject can get, however, since comments to my column are not really allowed, you are welcome to have an open conversation with me on twitter. During a recent chat, over the weekend, with this pregnant lady, whom I usually meet but never really speak to, we touched on the topic of her really greasy hair, which she is now losing. Well, if you are from a conservative Hindu family I’m sure you must have heard of the fact that Hindu women, when pregnant, are not allowed to wash their hair for the first 7 months of their pregnancy (icky, but true). I really got interested in the subject, as I’m to marry soon and a baby will follow sooner a later, so I asked a few elders around. One of the explanations I received is mentioned below: “The birth of a child is also considered to be the re-birth of our ancestors. By washing her hair, the lady is also washing away any soul who wishes to enter the baby.” I wasn’t particularly satisfied with t...