The Hindu Rituals- Knowledge of Hindu Rituals is Essential to Know Hinduism (An Old and Rare Book- Only 1 Quantity Available)

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A Hindu ritual is an art of expression of Sanatana Dharma.

Dharma is derived from "Dhri" (meaning to hold or bind). It is the inner virtue of love, tolerance and other ethical human behaviour that bind men together in a society in high civilisation and culture. Dharma of fire is to burn and that of water is to flow. It is the same truth everywhere and everytime. Therefore, Dharma of man either in India or elsewhere abroad should be the same. The eternal and unchangeable human virtues are Sanatana Dharma.

Dharma is said to be religion in English. Dharma is, however, distinct from religion. Religion is derived from the latin Religio which means obligations, bond, reverence, etc. Just as there are diverse languages, thoughts and faiths. similarly, men formed into different Sampradayas or sections Into groups or into a religion with dogmatic beliefs and dispersions and framed rules and rituals that suit them. Since there is no appropriate word for Dharma in English, the word religion to express Dharma, is used in this book as a compromise for popular understanding.

Emerged from Sanatana Dharma, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism grew into distinct religion.. In this book, in the Introduction II there is an attempt to draw out their beliefs in brief that may help a comparative study in them. Since they emerge from Sanatana Dharma there is affinity in their culture which reveals unity in diversity.

In course of time Sanatana Dharma, grew different Sampradayas or section. They follow different culture and rituals which are known as Hinduism and Hindu culture. The Hindu rituals follow Vedic disciplines. They are levers in the ladder of civilisation and culture to rise in the attempt for spiritual progress, perfection and peace in steps with time and in tune with nature.

Time is dynamic. The Sun and the Moon move in the space since unknown time, make days and nights, seasons and years, and help to measure time as well as help in revealing cosmic laws and cosmic evolution in life and nature. Since nature is expressive by time, the ideas of nature in consonance with the ideas of time help in selection of auspicious moments for rituals.

Among the different Sampradayas or the sections of the Hindus there are too many rituals all through the year. Some of the rituals are highly rich in philosophy and their mystic practices and processes are beyond comprehension of the average. Some of them are unquestionably based on the truths of philosophy and facts of science. There are rituals in groups or in community, traditional, or individual worship or puja. In this book only a few puja, Brata or ceremony as ritual have been treated helpful to have a glimpse into the art and activities of the Hindu rituals. They are purposive behaviour and effective in life when the auspicious time, the processes and performances and Mantra are in synthesis.

This book is a compilation of several articles on different Hindu rituals with Tantra, Mantra and timing which were published in different journals in India and abroad. It is hoped that this book will meet curiosities of those who missed them but are eager to know them. Further materials regarding time. the Signs, and Naksatra are available in my book Astrology and Jyotirvidya (Fundamental Principles).

I am grateful to Sri Arun Kumar Lahiri and Sri Manoj Kumar Lahiri of Astro Research Bureau, 17 Brindaban Mallick 1st Lane, Calcutta 700 009, for their emphatic insistance in compiling this book and every assistance in getting the book printed.

Here is an attempt to narrate the spiritual path in nutshell in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism collected from different sources.

HINDUISM (Sanatana Dharma) is the world's oldest religion the beginning of which is yet unknown. It predates recorded history. There is no founder of this religion. The Vedas are the scriptures of the Hindus. The Vedas are records of the greatest wisdom of human experiences and the knowledge is extended to Tantra, Mantra, Jyotis (knowledge of life and nature by time and space).

Rituals are disciplines in religion. They help progress towards a higher civilisation and perfection in life.

The Hindus worship Supreme Reality called by many names. They accept all genuine spiritual paths from pure monism to theistic dualism. They say all souls ultimately realise the truth. Each soul is free to find its way whether by devotion, asuterity, meditation or selfless service. Importance is placed on temple worship, scriptures and the Guru-disciple tradition. Rituals, festivals, pilgrimages, chanting holy hymns, home worship are dynamic practices.

Rituals are expressions of ideas and feelings of the mind for transformation and purification embodying truth as they are in scriptures. Love, non-violence, good conduct and the disciplines of Hinduism that unite people in a society for civilisation are the common spiritual paths of the Hindus.

Among the Hindus, precisely, people in Sanatana Dharma, there are three main denominations: Saiva, Sakta and Vaisnabas. There are others in smaller number.

Saivalsm: The primary goal of Salvaism is Moksha.

Mukti, realisation of one's identity with God Siva in perfect union and non-differentiation and thus gaining liberation' from the cycle of birth and death. This is also called Nirbikalpa Sama dhi and this may be attained in this life..

A secondary goal is Sabikalpa Sama dhi or experience God siva as Sat-cit-ananda or Pure Consciousness - the soul's final destiny to merge with God Siva.

The path for Saivaltes is divided into four progressive stages of belief and practice, called Chariya, Kriya, Yoga and Jnana. The soul evolves through Karma and reincarnation from the instinctive, intellectual sphere into virtuous and moral living, then into temple worship and devotion, followed by Yoga and its meditative disciplines. disciplines. Union comes through the grace of Sat Guru and culminates in its maturity in the state of Jnana or wisdom.

Saktism: The primary goal of Saktism is moksha, defined as complete identification with creative energy.

A secondary goal for the Saktas is to perform good work selflessly, so that one may go, after death, to heaven and thereafter enjoy a good birth on the earth for heaven is a transitory state for the Sakta. God is both formless, Absolute (Siva) and the manifest Divine (Śakti, Durga, Kali) but stress is given to the feminine manifest since creation is feminine energy.

The ritual paractices in śaktism are similar to those in Sawaism, though there is perhaps more emphasis in śaktism and God's power as opposed to Being, on Mantras, Yantras and on embracing apparent opposites male/female, absolute/relative, plesure/pain, cause/effect, and mind/body. A minor section undertakes Tantrik practices, consciously using the world of form to transmit and eventually transcend that world, the dynamic force behind cosmic evolution.

Vaisnavism: The primary goal of the Vaisnavites, is termed Videha Mukti, defined as liberation attainable only after death, when the self realises blissful union with God's body as part of Him and yet maintains its pure individual personality. Lord Visņu is God all pervasive consciousness and the soul of the universe, distinct from the world and form the Jiva which constitutes His body.

A secondary goal, the experience of God's grace, can be reached while yet embodied through taking refuge in God's unbounded love.

Orthodox Vaisnavites believe that religion is the performance of bhakti, Sa dhand that man can communicate with and receive the grace of Lord Visą u who manifests through the temple deity or idol. The path of Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga leads to Bhakti Yoga. Through chanting of the holy names of Lord Visą u's incarnations and total sell surrender to him, liberation is attained.