Right hand behaviors

Namaskāra to all,

I ran into something very surprising today as I read the book, "Betrayal of the Spirit," another book about ISKCON. Knowing a little about some of the ritual use of hands in Islam, I was very surprised to find in the book that japa beads are not handled by the left hand in counting, AND with the middle finger and thumb only. Guess what? The same thing exists in Islam, in that the left hand is unclean and the index finger is not part of the japa bead counting, but the right hand is used for something different, like pointing out faults in others and claiming pride and distinction for oneself. The same hands and the same fingers, though for different reasons. This is too close to be a coincidence. What's going on here?

Praṇāma

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Originally Posted by deafAncient

Namaskāra to all,

I ran into something very surprising today as I read the book, "Betrayal of the Spirit," another book about ISKCON. Knowing a little about some of the ritual use of hands in Islam, I was very surprised to find in the book that japa beads are not handled by the left hand in counting, AND with the middle finger and thumb only. Guess what? The same thing exists in Islam, in that the left hand is unclean and the index finger is not part of the japa bead counting, but the right hand is used for something different, like pointing out faults in others and claiming pride and distinction for oneself. The same hands and the same fingers, though for different reasons. This is too close to be a coincidence. What's going on here?

Praṇāma

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Namaste Ji,

Is it an issue?Do you think we should stop following our system if some things appear similar to another one?

I don't know... I'm not suggesting that, but to understand where that came from... If that's what they do, that's what they do. I was very surprised to find this out.

Namaste DA,

My theory is it is a thing that cultures and other systems held on to when they emigrated from Mother India, spreading out across the globe. Most cultures and faiths have an ancestral proscription against using the left hand. Catholics and early forms of Protestants, Shinto, and East Asian animistic beliefs have it too, though some of the original reasons mutated along with the faiths.

~Pranam

Namaskāra Aanandinii,

I believe that you are right. I had forgotten about the western migration of knowledge from India once again. Many thanks for the reminder.

Praṇāma