Importance of rituals in Hinduism

bhattathiri · October 19, 2004

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Article by M.P. Bhattathiri, Retired Chief Technical Examiner , Govt. of Kerala, it may be published in your website and magazine after editing if necessary.

Scientifically ancient India was developed and our ancient saints discovered many things and lost many things under the foreign rule.Sacred texts like Srimad Bhagavatham , Holy Gita, Vedas, Upanishads contain technical and scientifical advancd informations.

"The Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Iksvaku."(Bhagavad-gita 4.1)

All the Hindu rituals like Ganapathy Homam, Veda Japam,Vishnusahasranamam, Sandhyavandanam, Sraadha Karma Gayatrimantram, Pooja, Dravyas, Suprabhatam Purohits for Performance Mantrapushpam Queries Namakachamakamu Hanuman Pooja Aditya Hrudayam Kanakadhara Stotram First Year Celebrations have got some scientific background. Recently Trivandrum was under a severe drought. Some devotee priests assembled in front of the famous Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple and chanted Varuna Japa and within one week heavy rain started. It is a awonder that monsoon started early this year and still going on.This tradition is an application of the scientific method where the infinite variety of

divine datas are generated by means of a limited number of experiences. These are all to satisfy the mind. The vast majority of men know not the existence of the mind and its operations. Even the so-called educated persons know very little of the mind subjectively or of its nature and operations. They have only heard of a mind which is very difficalt to control.

Mind is one of the Ashta-Prakritis. "Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, reason and egoism-these

constitute the eightfold division of My Nature" (Gita, VII-4).

Mind is nothing but Atma-Sakti. It is brain that wants rest (sleep), but not the mind. A Yogi who has

controlled the mind never sleeps. He gets pure rest from meditation itself.

According to Hinduism an individual has to live in order to observe and protect his dharma or religious laws. If he does not observe his dharma, he is not entitled to moksha or salvation.

An individual must be ever grateful to his gods who always keep a protective eye over him and work for his welfare. If he does not propitiate them or acknowledge their help, he will lose their support and blessings. These gods exists not only outside of him, but also with in him. They are the spiritual energies that reside in him and help him to progress towards Aditi, the Light and attain "Soma", the state of divine bliss.

It does not mean that the gods are selfish or biased. It means that the gods are impartial, as they discharge their respective duties strictly in accordance with the rules of creation and the Eternal Dharma, laid down by the Supreme Self, rewarding righteous actions and punishing the unrighteous ones.

The scriptures are very clear as to what should be ones attitude towards the religious texts. An individual must revere and respect the Vedas which are revealed texts directly coming from God for the general welfare and guidance of the mankind. The attitude that is expected of a devout Hindu should include, respect towards the sacred books, proper study and understanding of them and proper observation of the truths and laws prescribed there in.

An individual must learn to see the omnipresence of God in every thing and everywhere. He who sees Him in all and all in Him would lead a deeply religious and spiritual life, because having realized the presence of God in all, he develops compassion and right attitude towards the whole creation of God.

An individual must lead life in strict accordance with the laws laid down in the scriptures. He must perform daily rituals, various samskaras and live the four ashramas or stages of his life in accordance with the rules prescribed in the scriptures.

It is unfortunate that many modern Hindus have a great contempt for the observation of rituals which according to them are nothing short of superstition. It must be remembered that these rituals are meant to inculcate feelings of reverence and devotion to god or gods.

A ritual is a method or a way. When we speak of the fact that Hinduism is a way of life, we are actually saying that one should live life as if it is a sacred ritual. The whole process of living is a great ritual in which the individual offers himself as a sacrificial offering to the divine spark within him and reaches the highest state of realization. Let us not forget that spiritualism is also a kind of ritualism only in which the spirit follows a certain prescribed path and reaches its original state. The emphasis on rituals in the Vedas is suggestive of the fact that we are expected to lead our lives according to a way or a method that would ensure our salvation.

It is not an exaggeration to say that some degree of ritualism is essential and integral to every religion. Whether it is religion or military activity, management or holding a meeting, rituals add structure and discipline to ones activity.

However superfluous they may appear to be, rituals prepare us mentally for the occasion. They divert the attention of an otherwise busy individual from mundane activities and make him god-centered. It does not mean that one should follow the rituals blindly. One has the freedom to chose the rituals which according to him would ensure proper results.

One can always create or formulate one own rituals as long as they incorporate the original meaning and serve the same purpose for which they are originally meant. One can at the most discard a few of those rituals which offend ones own sense of justice or balance. But it is doubtful if the religion would condone those who would discard all rituals summarily, without proper understanding of what the rituals stand for.

One need not perform a yagna in the elaborate manner prescribed in the Vedas, especially when one is not conversant with Sanskrit or the vedic ritualism. One need not perform even puja if one has the right awareness and correct attitude towards God and oneself.

If one understands the true meaning of a yagna and try to make an offering of something mentally with sincerity and devotion it will lead to the same results. If one can close ones eyes in front of the image of a god and mentally performs a puja with sincerity and devotion, it would lead to the same results as the physical puja performed with the same degree of devotion and sincerity.

What is important is the attitude and feeling behind performing the act, not the mere act itself. The Upanishads at various places cautions the students against insincere and empty ritualism.

Many Hindus of modern day have a poor understanding of the religious scriptures. Some very educated Hindus cannot even recollect with accuracy the names of the four Vedas. Some of them do not have an idea of what the Upanishads teach. But they try to justify their religious fervor under the feeling that such knowledge is neither essential nor useful for ones spiritual progress.

Hinduism may be just a way of life, and not religion. But it does not under any circumstances advocates one to be irreligious or irresponsible towards oneself. It always emphasizes on the need to protect ones Dharma and follow ones natural Dharma. Your dharma is not something that is imposed upon you. It is something that you are born with. It is a part of your previous samskaras. You cannot just wish it away. And no society can impose its code upon you. If you are born with a particular sense of dharma and your society tries to manipulate you with its own codes you have the right and freedom to chose your own code. This is where the religion gives freedom to the individual to select his path. This is where it tries to act as a buffer between the individual and the conditioning and controlling influence of an all powerful society.

This service equips in performing rituals (karmas like Pooja, Homas, Vrathas, etc.) even with or without knowledge in performing them. All the activities are explained and illustrated in detail in text, audio & video form. The service also comprises of customised rituals wherein all the chantings including Name, Gothram, Deity Name, Reason for performing, etc. are exactly slotted and passed on to the user for performing as per the guidelines furnished, without any further difficulties or ambiguity.

Being in the materialistic world, away from Moksha(on the path to reach God) humans are surrounded by Moha & Maya resulting in selfishness and disappointments, irregularities, mental tensions and other ailments.

To heal the ailments and to lead a reasonable sound life with current day amenities several presentations are made in our Puranas & Vedas for peace, health, wealth & prosperity. Some of them are short-listed, refined and made available by Rishis(Saints) to the humans irrespective of the caste and creed, rich or poor, black or white, male or female with suitable actions. They are called Karmas or Karyas or Rituals. These are meant for following and performing. Different rituals are specified for various occasions. Certain daily rituals are also advised to perform for peace, health, wealth & prosperity.

The modern day Hindus, not all but a sizeable number of them, do not read the sacred texts because of lack of proper attitude and faith. They do not see any perceptible use in the exercise of reading. They take comfort in the misguided belief that the texts are ritualistic in nature and therefore it would not make any sense to read them or follow them.

They believe that one need not read these texts, one need not understand them, one need not even believe in God, but still can work for their salvation ! How absurd the belief can be! How difficult it would be to attain Him with such a high degree of insincerity, self-deception and rationalization of knowledge!

The Vedas are not texts of empty eulogy and ritualism, extolling the virtues of gods and goddesses who appear more like human beings with the same number of defects as we find in ourselves. The texts are impregnated with tremendous degree of divine wisdom. They reveal innumerable secrets to those who have the interest like Shri Aurobindo to unravel the hidden key and try to understand their true meaning. Those who have any doubts in this regard should read his book, the Secret of the Vedas to understand what the Vedic texts actually means. Those who do not have the time or opportunity should go through the article on the hidden symbolism of Hinduism available at this site.

Let us remember that in other religions, scriptures do occupy the central part. These religions are more organized because an understanding of the basic scripture is fundamental to the practice of religion. While there are hundreds of Hindus who have never read a Veda or Upanishads, it is difficult to come across a Christian or a Muslim who has never gone through his or her holy book. Many carry them to their places of work or keep it in their houses for regular or occasional study. It is wrong to presume that Hinduism does not prescribe study of religious scriptures. In fact it is an essential and integral part of a person's education and religious life.

The purpose of this article is not to advocate blind faith or blind following, but to make us understand the need for a judicious exercise of choosing what is right and what is wrong for one not in complete and total freedom but in accordance with the scriptures (external dharma) and one own inner nature or internal dharma.

Ref. Various hindu websites