The 'Earthing' Factor

I felt a sense of excitement, when I came across this question. I had thought that the traditional custom or ritual is almost extinct, or forgotten. And now, ‘presto’! here comes somebody asking for the reason behind it!

Bowing to mother earth has currently got into trouble with political controversies with religious sentiments overlapping!

Mere quoting of traditional beliefs do not seem to work with the present-day-minds!
Quite reasonable, agreed. But then, if unaccompanied by a keen enquiring mind, the rich heritage passed down from generations would get lost due to ‘blind-disbelief’!

For me, the question is an awaited ‘excuse’ to remind ourselves of something that is perhaps very precious, though it costs almost nothing to try it out!

Now it is up to us to keep it or throw it away!

Regards,

Psn(17th November, 2009)

http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091116184026AAbrTgN

The question:
Why to touch earth when you wake up?
people say that, one has to touch the earth with is hand(only hand) first and then wake up (or then the legs)... why ?

My answer:
Scientifically, we may try to compare it with 'earthing' (the neutral line, required to complete the circuit in power cables, electric current...)
Traditionally there is another example. In Hindu way of life, the annual ceremony of a dead person performed on the lunar phase of date of death(tithi), is also using direct contact with earth (in contrast to other rituals/pujas done sitting on a non-conductor like wooden plank, cushion, Kusha-grass, deer-skin, etc). Here too the reason is to 'provide' earthing to the person invoked (that person is presumed to be floating, without the body).
Everyday, we go into a sort of 'nothing-ness' while asleep. In our own experience, we are almost like 'dead' to the outside world during our sleep state. So, soon after waking, we make the contact or the 'earthing' quicker by touching, to get back to worldly business at the earliest. We have that 'extra-gravity' problem getting out of bed when we wake up :)
This tradition is almost extinct! Many people would not have even heard of it! A special thanks to you for this question, giving an opportunity to look at it with the modern scientific way of looking at it! The previous generations were more trusting, quite innocent, ignorant of modern-like-logic, so the belief system worked well, when the explanations were belief-oriented, like treating the earth like a goddess, and bowing, worshipping by that humble touch .. etc. Even this traditional belief has its value, but to experience it, a person has to evolve beyond logic! For those who can afford to believe and trust, the traditional explanations too are very precious and hold good value.