Batsman taking Guard

[srinivasan]

This is technically not a Law or Umpire's technique based question.

I sometimes wonder as to why a batter takes "Guard". Apart from, probably, the many psychological reasons, is there any other importance to this?

[gooders]

I take it you were never a player.
The reason for a "guard" is so that you know without having to check by looking at the wicket, where you are in relation to the wicket, and from what I remember, in your normal stance, your eyes are aligned over the line of the off stump so that you can judge the line of the ball for leaving wayward or off line deliveries.