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The practice of Religion

Bhakti Marga, Gnana Marga and Yoga Marga,

are the three paths (Devotion, Knowledge and Yoga) for god realization, which is the ultimate aim of the Hindu religion. All Brahminical teachings and writings lead to one of these paths. One is free to choose the path depending upon his or her intellect, inclination, or inner urge. Whereas the Gnana and Yoga margas may call for high degree of learning and discipline, the Bhakti Marga or the path of devotion and love is within easy reach of all. The Bhakti movement has been and will be a very potent force in god realization.

Bhakti encompasses, from offering simple prayers in praise of a god or respective gods to the highly ritualistic. The nature of these ceremonies, depend upon the deity, the level of knowledge of the priest/s. The belief is that anything done with devotion will reach the gods. In keeping with intellectual tradition, there have been debates as to which path is the best for god realization.

Shankara in his ‘Bhaja Govinda  Stotram’  says

" Bhaja Govindam,  Bhaja Govindam,  Govindam Bhaja moodhamate samprapte sannihite kaley,  nahi nahi rakshati dukurinkarane. "

" Pray to lord Govinda, pray to lord Govinda, ignorant folks
 when your time is up, you won’t be saved by your book bank." (R.G)

Water in a pot, (Kalasha) sanctified by invoking the names of seven sacred rivers of India namely Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, is used for worship.

After the above offerings, Arathi (camphor light) and recitation of Vedic hymns called Mantra Pushpa concludes the Pooja (worship).

Pooja is based on Mantras (hymns) and is focused on concentrating on sounds. There are also diagrams called ‘Yantras’, which have the mantras as the core. These are usually inscribed on copper plates, which are then worshipped.

Homa

On special occasions, a sacrificial ceremony is performed in temples and households, which is called ‘Homa’. This has nothing to do with the animal sacrifice some Hindus offer to propitiate their gods. The Homa is performed under the guidance and authority of highly learned priests and may take up to six hours or more. More popular Homas are,

Ganapathi Homa for Lord Ganesha

Sudarshana Homa for Lord Vishnu.

Mrityunjaya Homa for Lord Shiva.

Chandi Homa for goddess Shakthi. (Durga).

Navagraha Homa for Surya (Sun).

Navagraha means nine planets, which are, the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the ascending and descending Nodes, named Raahu and Kethu, that are also considered as planets. In the sanskrit language these are called, respectively,

Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Kethu.

The fire god Agni is invoked at the ‘Homa’ and with the chanting of appropriate hymns, clarified butter (butter oil), and other offerings such as rice, coconut, gold and silver, new cloth (Vastra) are offered. In this case Agni also acts as carrier of the offerings to heaven for the respective gods, for whose blessings the Homa is performed.

Samskaras

higher power, and to give to our joys and suffering a deeper significance and a religious sanctification."

Samskaras are rooted in the Rig-Veda, although the Atharva-veda is rich in mantras relating to marriage and funeral ceremonies. The objective of the Samskaras, are several. The removal of evil spirits, invoking blessings from gods for material gains, longevity and good progeny, are a few of these. The common thread holding all Samskaras is the worship of Agni (fire God) and Varuna (rain God) and the sprinkling or sipping of the holy water to wash away evil spirits and impurities. Different Mantras are chanted and different gods are worshipped depending upon the ceremony.

Samskaras are forty in number. The prominent are

a) Garbha daana. Pre natal ceremony.

b) Pumsavana. Performed in the 2^nd,3^rd or 4^th month of pregnancy.

c) Seemantha. Performed in the 7^th or 8^th month.

d) Jaatakarma. Immediately after child birth.

e) Naamakarana. Child naming ceremony. 10^th or 12^th day after birth.

f) Annaprasana. First feeding of cooked rice to child,at 6 months.

g) Choodakarma. First tonsure for male child, at three years of age.

h) Upanayana        .Thread giving ceremony, performed in the 8^th,11^th or 12^th year of male child calculated from the conception date, when   the Guru teaches the’ Gayatri mantra’. Thereafter the child is empowered to study the Vedas and participate in Vedic functions.

i) Vivaha (Marriage).        Vivaha means support to sustain. Sustain Dharma. Solemnized, with Agni as the     witness. The marriage is complete when the couple take seven steps together (Saptapadi).

The Indian landscape is dotted with Hindu temples and there is hardly any town or village without one. The second half of the 20^th century has witnessed the construction of hundreds of Hindu temples in many parts of the globe but especially in the USA.

In most of these temples, ritual form of worship is offered by learned Brahmin priests. However, the Government of India has of late, inducted other Hindus to priestly duties, in the temples run by it, in India.

The traditional ritual consists of sixteen elements and is called ‘ Shodasha upachara pooja’. This type of worship is also offered in Brahmin households and households where Brahmin priests perform ‘pooja’. Each household worships a deity termed "Kula Daivata" (Family god). In addition there is "Ishta Daivata" (Personal god).

Shodasha upachara consists of

a) Dhyana. (prayer).

b) Avahana invocation

c) Aaasana (offering seating)

d) Paadya (washing of feet)*

e) Arghya (washing of hands)*

f) Aachamana (offering of drinking water)*

g) Snana (bathing ritual)

h) Vastra (new dress)

i) Yajnopavita (sacred thread)

j) Gandha (sandal paste)

k) Abharana (jewelry)

l) Akshata (colored rice, Turmeric powder, Vermillion powder)

m) Pushpa (flowers)

n) Dhoopa (incense)

o) Deepa (lighted, oil soaked cotton wicks).

          p) Naivedya (offering of specially prepared food).

The practice of Religion

Bhakti Marga, Gnana Marga and Yoga Marga,

are the three paths (Devotion, Knowledge and Yoga) for god realization, which is the ultimate aim of the Hindu religion. All Brahminical teachings and writings lead to one of these paths. One is free to choose the path depending upon his or her intellect, inclination, or inner urge. Whereas the Gnana and Yoga margas may call for high degree of learning and discipline, the Bhakti Marga or the path of devotion and love is within easy reach of all. The Bhakti movement has been and will be a very potent force in god realization.

Bhakti encompasses, from offering simple prayers in praise of a god or respective gods to the highly ritualistic. The nature of these ceremonies, depend upon the deity, the level of knowledge of the priest/s. The belief is that anything done with devotion will reach the gods. In keeping with intellectual tradition, there have been debates as to which path is the best for god realization.

Shankara in his ‘Bhaja Govinda  Stotram’  says

" Bhaja Govindam,  Bhaja Govindam,  Govindam Bhaja moodhamate samprapte sannihite kaley,  nahi nahi rakshati dukurinkarane. "

" Pray to lord Govinda, pray to lord Govinda, ignorant folks
 when your time is up, you won’t be saved by your book bank." (R.G)

Water in a pot, (Kalasha) sanctified by invoking the names of seven sacred rivers of India namely Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, is used for worship.

After the above offerings, Arathi (camphor light) and recitation of Vedic hymns called Mantra Pushpa concludes the Pooja (worship).

Pooja is based on Mantras (hymns) and is focused on concentrating on sounds. There are also diagrams called ‘Yantras’, which have the mantras as the core. These are usually inscribed on copper plates, which are then worshipped.

Homa

On special occasions, a sacrificial ceremony is performed in temples and households, which is called ‘Homa’. This has nothing to do with the animal sacrifice some Hindus offer to propitiate their gods. The Homa is performed under the guidance and authority of highly learned priests and may take up to six hours or more. More popular Homas are,

Ganapathi Homa for Lord Ganesha

Sudarshana Homa for Lord Vishnu.

Mrityunjaya Homa for Lord Shiva.

Chandi Homa for goddess Shakthi. (Durga).

Navagraha Homa for Surya (Sun).

Navagraha means nine planets, which are, the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the ascending and descending Nodes, named Raahu and Kethu, that are also considered as planets. In the sanskrit language these are called, respectively,

Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Kethu.

The fire god Agni is invoked at the ‘Homa’ and with the chanting of appropriate hymns, clarified butter (butter oil), and other offerings such as rice, coconut, gold and silver, new cloth (Vastra) are offered. In this case Agni also acts as carrier of the offerings to heaven for the respective gods, for whose blessings the Homa is performed.

Samskaras

higher power, and to give to our joys and suffering a deeper significance and a religious sanctification."

Samskaras are rooted in the Rig-Veda, although the Atharva-veda is rich in mantras relating to marriage and funeral ceremonies. The objective of the Samskaras, are several. The removal of evil spirits, invoking blessings from gods for material gains, longevity and good progeny, are a few of these. The common thread holding all Samskaras is the worship of Agni (fire God) and Varuna (rain God) and the sprinkling or sipping of the holy water to wash away evil spirits and impurities. Different Mantras are chanted and different gods are worshipped depending upon the ceremony.

Samskaras are forty in number. The prominent are

a) Garbha daana. Pre natal ceremony.

b) Pumsavana. Performed in the 2^nd,3^rd or 4^th month of pregnancy.

c) Seemantha. Performed in the 7^th or 8^th month.

d) Jaatakarma. Immediately after child birth.

e) Naamakarana. Child naming ceremony. 10^th or 12^th day after birth.

f) Annaprasana. First feeding of cooked rice to child,at 6 months.

g) Choodakarma. First tonsure for male child, at three years of age.

h) Upanayana        .Thread giving ceremony, performed in the 8^th,11^th or 12^th year of male child calculated from the conception date, when   the Guru teaches the’ Gayatri mantra’. Thereafter the child is empowered to study the Vedas and participate in Vedic functions.

i) Vivaha (Marriage).        Vivaha means support to sustain. Sustain Dharma. Solemnized, with Agni as the     witness. The marriage is complete when the couple take seven steps together (Saptapadi).

The Indian landscape is dotted with Hindu temples and there is hardly any town or village without one. The second half of the 20^th century has witnessed the construction of hundreds of Hindu temples in many parts of the globe but especially in the USA.

In most of these temples, ritual form of worship is offered by learned Brahmin priests. However, the Government of India has of late, inducted other Hindus to priestly duties, in the temples run by it, in India.

The traditional ritual consists of sixteen elements and is called ‘ Shodasha upachara pooja’. This type of worship is also offered in Brahmin households and households where Brahmin priests perform ‘pooja’. Each household worships a deity termed "Kula Daivata" (Family god). In addition there is "Ishta Daivata" (Personal god).

Shodasha upachara consists of

a) Dhyana. (prayer).

b) Avahana invocation

c) Aaasana (offering seating)

d) Paadya (washing of feet)*

e) Arghya (washing of hands)*

f) Aachamana (offering of drinking water)*

g) Snana (bathing ritual)

h) Vastra (new dress)

i) Yajnopavita (sacred thread)

j) Gandha (sandal paste)

k) Abharana (jewelry)

l) Akshata (colored rice, Turmeric powder, Vermillion powder)

m) Pushpa (flowers)

n) Dhoopa (incense)

o) Deepa (lighted, oil soaked cotton wicks).

          p) Naivedya (offering of specially prepared food).