Tydligen blir man cp om man äter med kniv och gaffel

This practice originated with Ayurvedic teachings which made people aware of the energy present in their hands. Our hands and feet are the conduits of the panchabhootas—the five elements of nature that constitute our body—and each finger of our hands is an extension of the five elements.

The thumb is Agni or fire that helps with digestion. This is one of the major benefits of eating with hands. One often sees infants sucking their thumbs; this is nature’s way of aiding the digestion of infants at an age when they are unable to do any physical activity.

The forefinger is for Vayu or air; the middle finger is for Akash or ether—the tiny intercellular spaces in the human body; the ring finger is Prithvi or earth, and the little finger is for Jal or water.