Topic started by Fridge (@ proxy.ndf.mweb.co.za) on Sun Mar 10 14:12:34 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

The painting of Henna on the hands and feet, Where did this come from, North Or south, Is it only used on when getting married.

Responses:

• From: Shakthi (@ 202.56.251.26) on: Wed Mar 13 12:42:22
  
  fridge,
  
  Please visit,
  http://meme.essortment.com/whatismendhi_rkyd.htm
  
  also, what i know about mehendi....
  
  MEHENDI is more like temporary tatooing.
  The leaves of henna are dried and made into paste, (very fine paste)
  using water, lime is also used to enhance the coolin effect.
  
  This paste is then stuffed into the cone which has very minute vent,
  through which designed are adorned. As and when the designs get dried,
  one has to wet little cotton in sugar syrup solution, and dab the cotton
  to the palms and feet, to avoid dryness.
  
  Mehendi plays very important role in north india. Just prior to marriage,
  on one fine auspicious day, women (friends and relatives) are invited, to
  participate in mehendi function. This is primarily an occasion for women
  to sing songs, dance, and also adorn their hands, feet, with mehendi. They
  apply mehendi in hands (back and fore hands till the elbow) and in feet
  I am not sure if mehendi is applied otherwise than for marriages.
  
  In south India, MEHENDI is called MARUDHANI
  
  Marundu - Medicine
  Tondri - Originated
  
  
  Marutondri then became marudhani
  
  Here in South, people apply marudhani not necessarily for marriages.
  It is applied even for small functions, festivals like deepavali, pongal
  etc. Sometimes with no prime reason, just to benefit from the medicinal
  values, one even applies marudhani.
  
  Men also apply the same during their marriage, depending upon the custom
  and creed for that particular person.
  
  Designs are not adorned here, instead fresh marudhani leaves are ground
  with tamarind, beetal nuts, a little of eucalyptus oil and lime are mixed,
  (These make the marudhani stains to turn a beautiful red ). Then this paste
  is applied on finger tips and palms of the hands and feet.
  
  Nowadays mehendi is more the trend, hence even the brides of south india,
  go to parlours or call some friends and adorn mehendi rather than marudhani.
  
  Surely whether MARUDHANI or MEHENDI it has its own beauty.
  
  
  
• From: fridge (@ netcache7.is.co.za) on: Thu Mar 14 01:25:48
  
  Shakthi
  
  Thank you for the info, Do you have the measurements of the Marudhani leaves, tamarind , beetle nuts etc to be used. Would like to try it.
  
  
  The link was good, I especialy like the part were the bride avoids housework, till the Marudhani wears off, I think that the get together of friends and the conversations they have during the application is of importance especialy in todays highly strung world, this seems like the time where people relax and laugh a lot. I like that. Laughter is always good for the soul.
  
  1.Two more questions related here,
  I have seen older ladies with permanent tatoo's on their face, Like a vertical stripe on thier forehead. any a dot on their cheek, and some type of emblem on their arms. Any idea where these come from.
  
  2. I am very interested in natural medicine, Ther is a oil treatment ritual performed on deepavali mornings, do you know the types of oil used.
  
  Thank you
  
  
  
• From: fridge (@ netcache7.is.co.za) on: Thu Mar 14 01:30:18
  
  Shakthi,
  
  sorry, should read, "and a dot on their cheeks."
  
  Thank you
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ bangdp-35-150.mantraonline.com) on: Fri Mar 15 13:29:56
  
  fridge,
  
  Measurements which worked out for me::::
  
  one cup of (say pav?) ground leaves
  add,
  
  1 spoon of eucaplytus oil (to prevent excess cooling of the body)
  half lime (cooling effect)
  half beetle nut , (half the size or marble)
  
  The result of the marudhani, can vary between deep red, orange or just
  yellowish orange, depending on the quality of leaves, and the body type
  of each individual.
  
  
  Its sure wonderful to apply marudhani, relax and delegate jobs around. On
  the lighter side, I must also warn you, in case u apply marudhani on both
  your hands, you will invariably land up having some urgent job, and regret
  the absense of hand's aid.
  
  During diwali, oil bath again removes the excess heat from the body.
  
  Heat generous amout of gingely oil, add
  ginger - 1 inch piece,
  ajwain or omam or carum seeds - 1 spoon. (Omam-tamizh, ajwain-hindi)
  (I presume these are used for the purpose of aromatherapy)
  
  This body massage removes, fatigue, heat, dryness etc. and rejuvinates the
  bio-system. Do not take bath immediately, but soak and allow the body, to
  reap the benefit for atleast 15 minutes.
  
  
  Dots on their cheeks etc is more like permanent tatoo, ppl do it to
  either create a permanent bindi, (pottu), or mole for beauty.
  Some tatoo the names of their beloved or sign of some god etc to show their
  deep affection for the same.
  
  
• From: Gods slave (@ bl1051-3.me.iastate.edu) on: Fri Mar 15 20:52:56
  
  To nanda,
  
  Aani a malaylam film star who was a catholic christian converted to hinduism a few years back. She became member of the arya samaj which endorses the equality of all in hindu religion.
  
  There are lots of other foriegners who may not officially convert to Hinduism but accept and follow the philosophies of hinduism under eminent gurus like sankaracharyas and others.
  
  Sonia Gandhi willingly admitted to being a hindu by praying in temples and participating in hindu religious ceremonies.
  
  Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda, Matha Amrithanada Mayi, Sai Baba ,the sankaracharyas and scores of other hindu gurus have thousands of converts who help them in spiritual and social work and stress on the equality of all people in hinduism.
  
  One of the most controversial was the closest disciple of Matha Amrithanadnamayi who was a devout muslim and who changed his renegade religion after having a spiritual reawakening. Muslims in Kerala had targeted to kill this guy as he had converted from islam and apostasy in islam means punishment by death. But he was saved on all occasions by the grace of god.
  
  So there are thousands of conversions but they are all spiritual in nature and not like political gimmicks played by muslims and christains by getting money from the middle east or america.
  
  
• From: Ezhil (@ ) on: Mon Dec 2 12:45:27
  
  Hey....
  
  I am a henna designer......from South India. I liked the explanation of MARUDHANI
  
  Marundu - Medicine
  Tondri - Originated
  
  
  Marutondri then became marudhani.
  
  Would you mind if I use this useful information in my website (it's not done yet)
  
  
• From: fridge (@ netcache6.is.co.za) on: Tue Dec 3 09:29:35
  
  Ezhil
  
  Do you make those designs that one sticks onto the hands, That is very clever.
  
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ bangdp-33-59.mantraonline.com) on: Tue Dec 3 12:07:28
  
  ezhil,
  
  If u are askin me the permission (cause I wrote that!)
  
  then no probs!
  
  go ahead and best wishes.
  
  :)
  
  
• From: help me (@ 204.101.207.101) on: Tue Dec 3 13:42:07
  
  does anyone have recipes for using henna for coloring hair?
  
  
• From: Ezhil (@ ) on: Tue Jun 17 11:24:30
  
  Hey,
  
  Thanks.
  
  I did use it in my website. I'll let you know when I've updated it.
  
  www.ezhenna.com
  
  
  
  
• From: Ezhil (@ 63.237.13.4) on: Tue Jun 17 11:27:16 EDT 2003
  
  Hey....
  
  The designs that sticks onto your hands....I din't quite understand that. Don't think it's me.
  
  I use only henna, the original henna paste. I buy mine off of lifeart henna.
  
  But hey.....I'll like to know what you are talking about....are they like temporary tattoos.
  
  
• From: Skanthavelu Nadarajah (@ edtntnt11-port-103.dial.telus.net) on: Tue Jun 17 12:29:47 EDT 2003
  
  Hi Fridge! Long time no talk! How are you? :))
  
  I have tried sending you e-mails a few times in the last couple of months and for some reason, the e-mails keep coming back along with a notice that they could not be delivered. Do you have a new e-mail address? Please let me know. vaNakkam!
  
  

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