190623-RITUALS

श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी
Serene Sunday Reflections

05MAY19 - HINDU’s SANATHANA DHARMA
12MAY19 - Sanathana Dharma in Vedic Views
19MAY19 - Vedic ways of PURUSHARTHA
26MAY19 - PURUSHARTHA The Blue Print of Practical Life
02JUN19 - Moksha
09JUN19 - MOKSHA & SWARGAM : POORTHA & ISHTA
16JUN19 - PARAM DHAANAM – Best Offering

23rd June 2019
RITUALS

KEYWORDS :: Rituals, Ishta Poortha, Offering, Dhyaanam, Yoga, Pooja, Kriya, Temple

Rituals when we say, it is Pooja that comes to everyone’s mind. Pooja is the Offering for/to God. Last week we reflected upon Best offering to mankind as Vidya-dhaanam (Education). Rituals are also called Service/Dhaanam. Thus, rituals are the thanksgiving service offered to God, by which one gets into the Dharana level among the Ashtanga Yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi). After Dharana one can get to the Dhyana and then may attain Samadhi (Meditation).

We reflected earlier on ISHTA POORTHA as SANATHANA DHARMA. In ISHTA Karma Agnihothram is most important which is Ritualistic thanksgiving to SUN, the prime GOD. Here a part of His (SUN) blessings – a bit of rice and ghee – is offered back to him saying it is all due to him (SOORYAYA SWAHA, SOORYAYA IDAM NAMAMA).

agnihothram thapa sathyam vedaanaam chaanupaalanam
aadithyam vaisyadhevam cha ishta ithyabhitheeyathe

All VAIDIKA ACHARA (offering to fire) with SWAHA (let sun eat this) offering HAVIS (material) is a major ritual at home and temples too. But mostly in Temples, PAURANIKA ARADHANA on VIGRAHA (Deity) is what is followed. Vaidika is more Veda mantra oriented, where self and the universe is part of the ritual, while Temple / Pauranika / Kshethra Aradhana are more of a public and utility oriented ritual.

While rituals conducted by the priest for the society, the dharana is that the rituals are done by Him, due to Him, for Him as explained in the following slokas:

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात्
kayena vacha manasendriayirva bhudhyathmana va prakruthe swabhavath
करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै गुरुवरायेति समर्पयामि
karomi yadhyathsakalam parasmai gururvarayethi samarpayami

Meaning:: All these rituals I am into with my Body, Speech, Mind or Sense Organs, using my Intellect, Feelings of Heart or (unconsciously) through the natural tendencies of my Mind, I do all for others (i.e. without the sense of attachment to the results), and I Surrender them to YOU Supreme Guru (MOSTLY for the GOD/GODDESSES that you are keeping in SANKALPA).

While and when all the rituals are done as POOJA with manthra and the activity of offering (KRIYA) with full BHAKTI (devotion) there could be errors in the rituals; here it says it is all DUE TO HIM (THE GOD Thyself).

मन्त्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं जनार्दन  यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे
manthraheenam kriyaheenam bhaktiheenam janardhana yath-poojitham maya deva paripoornam thadasthu me

This sloka unambiguously says Rituals are Godly affairs and needs to be done with utmost SRADDHA (concentration) and BHAVA (understanding the inner meaning).

Unfortunate that these days Rituals became a synonym for anything that one does casually without attention. Most of the Rituals done in the temples too are without this Sraddha (concentration). Thus, next week we plan to reflect on the Temple Ritual in Brief.

----- Next Week 30^th June 2019 – TEMPLE RITUALS –-----
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