Hindu Rituals
Purification – usually with water, is a typical feature of most religious action.
Sacrifice – offerings, preparation of sacred space, recitation of texts, mantras, hindu ceremony (see below).
Merit – gained through the performance of charity or good works.
Yoga – A way to achieve union with God (paths – Ashrams)
Karma Yoga (the path of selfless action) begins with the understanding that selfish action binds the soul. By giving up the fruits of action, one is relieved from the reactions to self-centered activities. Karma-yoga specifically refers to sacrifices offered to various deities to attain material necessities in this life and the next, without accruing any reaction. On the highest level, karma-yoga means the unreserved dedication of all activities to serve the Supreme Lord. Karma-yogis tend to have a materially progressive attitude towards the world and their aim is often the heavenly planets.
Jnana Yoga (the path of spiritual knowledge) promotes knowledge through seclusion, study, and sense negation. Activities and the necessities of life are minimized. Since the pursuit of wisdom and realization is not simply an academic exercise, much emphasis is placed on becoming free from the sensual desires that delude the soul. Jnana is sometimes considered the antithesis of karma. Jnanayogis negate the world and usually aim at liberation
Ashtanga/RajaYoga (the path of meditation) physical exercises and meditation consisting of eight limbs, based on the Yoga Sutras. It is explored succinctly in the Bhagavad-gita. Many modern practices of yoga are related. This is the Yoga of Patanjali. The perfection is to focus on God within. Yama – non-violence, truth, non-stealing, continence, non-coveting. Niyama – personal ethics of purity, contentment, ardour, study, devotion. Asana – discipline of the body through posture for taming the mind. Pranayama – discipline of the breath developed through asana. Pratyahara – beginning concentration, on object for 10-20 seconds. Dharana – intermediate concentration, on object for 2-4 minutes. Dhyana – advanced concentration, holding to a single object for 30-40 minutes. Samadhi – very advanced concentration, holding to a single object for 6 hours or more. The most advanced practitioners can remain in samadhi indefinitely.
Bhakti Yoga/Kriya Yoga (the path of devotional service) an act of devotion, a priest offers arti to the temple deities. Bhakti appears to be the path most recommended in the Gita. Krishna says that at the beginning, bhakti-yoga appears simple, but as it is perfected and as the practitioner matures, it combines all types of yoga. Within modern Hinduism, bhakti-yoga remains the predominant path towards spiritual fulfillment. The goals of many bhakti schools aim at pure, selfless service to a personal God.
Hatha Yoga - The path of holistic health & Shatkarma – purification. Ha – Sun (Masculine), Tha –Moon (Feminine), Hatha brings these forces together. It consists of six limbs focused on attaining Samadhi and awakening the Kundalini energy. Brings the forces of Shiva (Shakti) and Parvati (Shakti) together. Asana – body postures and mudras (hand poses) that open the nadis (channels). Pranayama – subtle energy control of the chakras by regulating breathe. Pratyahara – withdrawing your senses. Dharana – concentration. Dhyana – meditation. Samadhi – mastery of the mind. Shatkarma – six practices for purification of the body: Neti – nasal cleansing, Dhauti – digestive cleansing, Nauli – abdominal massage, Basti – colon cleansing, Kapalabhati – purification of the frontal lobes, Trataka – blinkless gazing
Ayurveda – The Science of Life – (Mind, Body, Spirit) Focus is on diet, metabolism, digestion, excretion, exercise, yoga, meditation, massage, purification (panchakarma), plus the eight Ashtangas of: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat, Psychiatry, Toxicology, Prevention, Aphrodisiacs. Body, Mind, Spirit – interconnected – Needs Balance. Mind – Tantra (Body and Spirit). Body – Ayurveda (Mind and Spirit). Spirit – Yoga (Body and Mind). Three Doshas - Kapha Water & Earth, Vata Air & Space, Pitta Fire & Water.
Hindu Ceremony is done several times a day.
Mantras – “Free the mind”. It is a sacred chant or prayer repeated over & over. Om – is the Mantra of creation.
Arti – A greeting ceremony. The priest or worshipper offers various sacred objects by moving them clockwise before the deity. At the same time he or she rings a small hand bell, while meditating on the forms of the deity. During the entire ceremony, which normally lasts from five to thirty minutes, the worshipper offers incense, flowers, water, a five-wick lamp, a lamp with camphor, candies and other items. The ceremony is often announced and concluded by the blowing of a conch-shell. During the ceremony the lamp is passed around; members pass their fingers over the flame and reverently touch them to their foreheads. The offered flowers are also passed around to worshippers and the water is sprinkled over their heads.
Bhajan/kirtan – Singing hymns, playing of instruments, chanting mantras
Puja – Worship of the gods consisting of a range of ritual offerings and prayers performed daily or on special days. Puja can consist of a series of rituals beginning with personal purification and invocation of the god, followed by offerings of flowers, food, or other objects, accompanied by prayers.
Darshan – Viewing the image of the deity, which may be in the form of a person or a symbol of the sacred presence.
Prasada – The gifts given to the gods become sacred through contact with their images or with their shrines, and may be received and used by worshipers as the grace of the divine.
Tilaka - Sacred ash or saffron powder or paste is placed on the center of the forehead with the fingertip to symbolize the opening of the third/sacred eye.
Mandalas or yantras – For many households, the day begins when the women in the house draws in chalk or rice flour a blessings in the form of a mandala or yantra on the floor or the doorstep.
Prayers – Dawn and dusk are greeted with recitations from the Rig Veda or the Gayatri Mantra for the sun. After a bath, there is personal worship of the gods at a family shrine, which typically includes lighting a lamp and offering foodstuffs before the images, while prayers in Sanskrit or a regional language are recited. In the evenings, especially in rural areas, mostly female devotees may gather together for long sessions of singing hymns in praise of the gods.
Meditations and Mantras
Meditation on Gayatri (also called “Veda-Mata” or the Mother of the Vedas)
Aum Bhuh Bhuvah Svah Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo, Yo nah Prachodayat
Meaning: O thou existence Absolute, Creator of the three dimensions, we contemplate upon thy divine light. May you stimulate our intellect & bestow upon us true knowledge.
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra – The Life – Giving Prayer
Om trayambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam Urvaarukamivabandhanaan mrityor muksheeya maamritaat.
MEANING: We worship the three-eyed One (Lord Shiva) Who is fragrant and who nourishes well all beings; may He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage (to the creeper).
Meditation On Lord Shiva
Shaantam padmaasanastham shashadharamakutam panchavaktram trinetram, Shoolam vajram cha khadgam parashumabhayadam dakshinaange vahantam; Naagam paasham cha ghantaam damaruka sahitam chaankusham vaamabhaage, Naanaalankaara deeptam sphatika maninibham paarvateesham namaami.
MEANING: I prostrate myself before the five-faced Lord of Parvati, who is adorned with various ornaments, who shines like the crystal jewel, who is seated peacefully in the lotus pose, with moon-crested crown, with three eyes, wearing trident, thunderbolt, sword and axe on the right side, who holds the serpent, noose, bell, damaru and spear on the left side, and who gives protection from all fear to His devotees.
Meditation On Lord Ganesha
Gajaananam bhootaganaadisevitam Kapittha jamboophala saara bhakshitam; Umaasutam shoka vinaasha kaaranam Namaami vighneshwara paada pankajam.
MEANING: I worship the lotus feet of Ganesha, the son of Uma, the destroyer of all sorrows, who is served by the host of gods and elementals, and who takes the essence of the kapittha-jarnbu fruit (fruit resembling the bilwa fruit).
Meditation On Sri Krishna
Vamshee vibhooshita karaan navaneeradaabhaat Peetaambaraadaruna bimbaphalaa dharoshthaat; Poornendusundara mukhaad aravinda netraat Krishnaat param kimapi tattwam aham na jaane.
MEANING: I know not any other Reality than the lotus-eyed Krishna with hands adorned with flute, looking like a heavy-laden cloud in lustre, wearing a yellow silk garment, with His lower lip like a ruddy bimba fruit, and with face shining like the full moon.
Meditation On Sri Rama
Dhyaayedaajaanubaaham dhritasharadhanusham baddhapadmaasanastham, Peetam vaaso vasaanam navakamala dala spardhinetram prasannam; Vaamaankaaroodhaseetaa mukhakamala milal lochanam neeradaabham, Naanaalankaara deeptam dadhatamuru jataa mandalam raamachandram.
MEANING: One should meditate on Sri Ramachandra, with hands reaching the knees, holding the bow and arrows, seated in the locked-up lotus posture, wearing a yellow garb, with eyes vying with the newly-blossomed lotus petals, with a pleasant gait, who has Sita
