SADHANA STEPS ( THE COMPREHENSIVE METHOD)

     

                                                                 STEP 16 

                                              TAKE THE VOW (SANKALPA)

  

                TAKE IT ONLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR SADHANA

                  1.... (YOUR FULL NAME) BORN IN ..... (STATE YOUR GOTRA. IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR GOTRA, SIMPLY SAY NARAYANA GOTRA FOR EVERYONE IS A CHILD OF THE DIVINE) ON .... (STATE YOUR DATE OF BIRTH) HEREBY VOW TO DO A PURUSHCHARANA OF ... (THE NAME OF YOUR MANTRA, LIKE GAYATRI, SRI SUKTAM, GURU MANTRA, ETC.) OVER THE NEXT ... (STATE THE NUMBER OF DAYS YOU'LL BE CHANTING THE MANTRA OVER, FOR EXAMPLE, 40, 90, 100, 300 AND SO ON) DAYS SO I MAY BECOME A WORTHY RECIPIENT OF YOUR GRACE AND ATTAIN THE DESIRED OUTCOME.

                                                              STEP 17

                                  MANTRA BREATHING (MANTRA SHVASA)

       

                     STARY BY COMPLETELY AND GENTLY EXHALING FROM BOTH NOSTRILS BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN THE MANTRA BREATHING PROCESS BELOW:

                   WITH YOUR RIGHT THUMB, CLOSE YOUR RIGHT NOSTRIL AND BREATHE IN DEEPLY FROM THE LEFT. WHILE BREATHING IN, CHANT GAYATRI MANTRA.

                 NOW, LIFT THE THUMB FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL AND CLOSE YOUR LEFT NOSTRIL BY PLACING THE INDEX FINGER OF YOUR RIGHT HAND. EXHALE GENTLY. CHANT GAYATRI MANTRA WHILE EXHALING.

                 KEEP THE SAME HAND POSITION AND DEEPLY INHALE FROM YOUR RIGHT NOSTRIL NOW. CHANT THE MANTRA WHILE INHALING FROM YOUR RIGHT NOSTRIL.

                NOW, LIFT YOUR INDEX FINGER FROM THE LEFT NOSTRIL AND PUT YOUR THUMB ON THE RIGHT NOSTRIL TO CLOSE IT. GENTLY EXHALE FROM YOUR LEFT NOSTRIL AND CHANT YOUR MANTRA WHILE EXHALING.

                THIS IS ONE ROUND OF INHALATION-EXHALATION, WHICH INVOLVES INHALING FROM YOUR LEFT, EXHALING FROM YOUR RIGHT, INHALING FROM YOUR RIGHT AND EXHALING FROM YOUR LEFT.

                          (  DO THREE ROUNDS OF MANTRA BREATHING )

                                                                 STEP 18

                                               APPLICATION (VINIYOGA)

                 THE WORD VINIYOGA MEANS APPLICATION. UNLIFE SANKALPA, VINIYOGA IS CHANTED EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT YOUR SADHANA. USE THE FOLLOWING MANTRA WITH WATER IN YOUR RIGHT PALM :

            SAPTAVYAHRATINAM JAMADAGNI BHARADVAJA ASTRI-GAUTAMA

           KASYAPA-VISVAMITRA-VASISTHA RSAYAH

           GAYATRYUSNIGANUSTUBBRHATI-PA MKTISTRISTUBJAGATYACHANDADA MSI

           AGNI-VAYU-SURYA-BRHSPATI-VARUNENDRA-VISVEDEVA DEVATAH

           SARVAPAPAKSAYARTHE JAPE VINIYOGAH

  

                                                              STEP 19

                           PURIFICATION OF HANDS (KARA SHUDDHI)

                  CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRA AND SHOW THE APPROPRIATE MUDRAS TO PERFORM PURIFICATION OF THE HANDS. 

RITUALS CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES

 

                             

                            ❤ RITUALS, CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES ❤

                       IN INDIA RITUALS AND CUSTOMS ARE CLOSELY KNIT IN SOCIAL RELIGIOUS LIFE OF PEOPLE. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW OR PERFORM ALL THESE SEEMINGLY COMPLEX RITUALS AND CUSTOMS? DO THEY SERVE ANY USEFUL PURPOSE FROM THE POINT OF UTILITY IN DAY-TO-DAY LIFE? YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT AT TIMES SOME PRIEST OR RELIGIOUS GURU ASKES THE FOLLOWERS TO PERFORM THESE RITUALS FOR SOME REASON OR THE OTHER. OFTEN PEOPLE PERFORM THEM ON THEIR OWN WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. LET US PAY SOME ATTENTION TO THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF THESE GREAT ENTHUSIASM. LET US PAY SOME ATTENTION TO THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF THESE RITUALS AND CUSTOMS. THERE ARE A WHOLE RANGE TO THE RANGE OF FUNCTIONS. HERE WE WILL DISCUSS A FEW FUNCTIONS  CONSIDERED IMPORTANT BY SOCIALOGISTS.

             👀  SOCIALIZATION : RITUALSS, CEREMONIES, ETC AS A SOCIALIZING FORCE. THEY BRING THE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DEFINED SOCIETY AND INTEGRATES THEM.

             👀   SOCIAL CONTROL : RITUALS, CEREMONIES, ETC. ACT AS A SOCIALIZING FORCE. THEY BRING THE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DEFINED SOCIETY AND INTEGRATES THEM.

             👀   SOCIAL CONTROL : THEY ACT AS INSTRUMENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL. THEY ARE LINKED WITH WORLDLY REWARDS AND PUNISHMENT. THE PRIEST OFTEN CONTROLS SOCIETY BY ASKING FOLLOWERS  TO PERFORM THESE FOR SOME REASON OR THE OTHER. MANY A TIME MEMBERS OF A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY OR CASTE ARE ASKED TO PERFORM THESE TO CORRECT THE WRONGS (SINS) COMMITTED OR ELSE FACE EXCOMMUNICATION. IN SUCH A SITUATION THEY BECOME WEAPON OF SOCIAL CONTROL.

          👀  MERIT AND STATUS : AT TIMES THEY ARE PERFORMED WITH A VIEW TO GET SOCIAL PRESTIGE AND STATUS. LIKE PERFORMING SOME SACRIFICE OR CONDUCTING YAGNA ETC.

             👀   IDENTIFICATION : CERTAIN RITUALS ARE PERFORMED TO HAVE A SPECIFIC IDENTITY. PUTTING VERMILION BY MARRIED WOMEN OR CIRCUMCISION AMONG MUSLIMS OR PIERCING OF EARLOBES IN SOME COMMNITIES ARE A FEW EXAMPLES.

             👀    SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT : PERFORMANCE OF CUSTOMES AND RITUALS IS CLOSELY LINELY WITH PEOPLE'S DESIRE TO ACHIEVE SPIRITUAL SATISFACTION AND ADVANCEMENT. PRAYERS, PILGRIMAGE, FASTING, SACRIFICES AND VARIOUS FORMS OF WORSHIP ARE FOLLOWED FOR THIS PURPOSE. IT APPLIES TO ALL THE RILIGIONS AND COMMUNITIES.

  

            👀   NAMASKER/NAMSTE : THE MOST POPULAR FORM OF GREETING, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERS, IS TO SAY MAMASTE WITH THE HANDS JOINED AT THE CHEST LEVEL. IT IS ALSO USED AT THE TIME OF FAREWELL.

             👀  LIGHTING LAMP/DIYA : IN ALMOST EVERY INDIAN HOUSEHOLD, A LAMP/DIYA IS LIGHTED BEFORE THE ALTAR OF GOD IN THE MORNING. SOME PEOPLE LIGHT LAMP IN EVENING ALSO.

             👀   PROSTRATING BEFORE PARENTS AND ELDERS : INDIANS PROSTRATE BEFORE THEIR PARENTS, ELDERS AND TEACHERS BY TOUCHING THEIR FEET. THE ELDERS IN TURN PLACE THEIR HAND ON PROSTRATING PERSON'S HEAD AND BLESS HIM/HER.

           👀  DEATH CEREMONY : AFTER A PERSON PASSES AWAY, THE CREMATION IS DONE ACCORDING TO CERTAIN RITUALS. THE RITUALS CONTINUE A FEW DAYS AFTER THE DEATH. IN THE ABOVE LINES, WE HAVE MENTIOBED ONLY SOME OF THE CUSTOMES AND TRADITIONS OF INDIA. OTHER IMPORTANT OCCATIONS WHEN DIFFERENT CUSTOMES AND RITUALS ARE FOLLOWED ARE THE INDIAN FESTIVALS. COME AND VISIT INDIA TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE OTHER FASCINATING ASPECTS OF INDIAN CUSTOMES AND RITUALS.

                                  ❤   INDIAN CUSTOMS AND RITUALS  ❤

                     INDIA IS A MELTING POT OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND RELIGIONS. THE DIVERSE CULTURE OF INDIA MAKES IT THE MOST UNIQUE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. CUSTOMS AND RITUALS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE INDIAN WAY OF LIFE. THESE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS TRAVERSE THE BOUNDARY OF RELIGION, CAST AND CREED. CUSTOMS AND RITUALS OF INDIA ARE WHAT ATTRACT MANY TOURISTS TO THIS MYRIAD LAND.

                   ONE GETS A GLIMPSE OF THE CUSTOMS AND RITUALS IN INDIA AS SOON AS ONE IS WELCOMED IN TRADITIONAL INDIAN STYLE. 'ATITHI DEVO BHAVA' IS WHAT INSPIRES THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS IN INDIA, WHICH IS WHAT REFLECTS THE MOST POPULAR CUSTOM OF INDIA. 'ATITHI DEVO BHAVA' MEANS THAT GUEST IS GOD AND SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE A DEITY. THIS IS WHAT IS EXPRESSED IN WELCOMING A GUEST WITH A GARLAND AND PUTTING VERMILION ON THE FOREHEAD OF THE GUEST. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SUCH CUSTOMS THAT ARE PART OF INDIAN SOCIETY. EVEN THE TOURISM MINISTRY, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HS LAUNCHED THE 'ATHITHI DEVO BHAVA' CAMPAIGN TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF INDIA'S RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF TREATING A TOURIST LIKE GOD.

                 INDIANS ARE STEEPED INTO VARIOUS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS. RIGHT FROM THE BIRTH TO DEATH, THERE IS HARDLY AND OCCASION THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN ELABORATE CEREMONY. SOON AFTER THE BIRTH OF A CHILD, AN ELABORATE CEREMONY TO NAME THE CHILD TAKES PLACE, WHICH IS MARKED BY CHANTING OF SLOKAS AND SINGING OF HYMS. WEDDINGS ARE GRAND AFFAIRS IN INDIA, AS THEY FOLLOW VARIOUS CUSTOMS AND RITUALS. SO, MANY FOREIGNERS COME TO INDIA TO MARRY IN INDIAN STYLE. RAJASTHAN IS THE PLACE THAT IS MOST POPULAR FOR ROUYAL WEDDINGS IN INDIA.

                EVEN CREMATION IS DONE ACCORDING TO RITUALS AFTER ONE PASSES AWAY. TAKING A HERITAGE TOUR TO INDIA IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE FASCINATING ASPECTS OF INDIAN CUSTOMS AND RITUALS. FETIVALS ARE OTHER IMPORTANT OCCASIONS WHEN ONE CAN SEE DIFFERENT CUSTOMS AND RITUALS FOLLOWED BY PEOPLE. COME ON A FASCINATING JOURNEY TO THE MYRAID LAND OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND UNIQUE CULTURES WITH HERITAGE IN INDIA.

                                                                           👀👀👀

         

                                                    

INDIAN FESTIVALS IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER

 

                                                      FESTIVALS IN INDIA

                                                            SEPTEMBER 

                  TARNETAR MELA (SAURASHTRA, GUJARAT) : IS AN EXCITING AND A UNIQUE FAIR HELD ANNUALLY AT TARNETAR IN SAURASHTRA. THE FAIR COINCIDES WITH THE FESTIVAL AT THE TRINETWSHWAR TEMPLE, CELEBRATING THE WEDDIND OF THE LEGENDARY MAHABHARAT HERO, ARJUNA WITH DRAUPADI. THE FAIR IS A KIND OF A MARRIAGE MARKET FOR THE LOCAL TRIBALS - THE KOLIS, BHARWADS AND RABARIS. THE TRADITIONAL COSTUMES, EXQUISITE JEWELLERY AND WONDERFUL TARNETAR"CHHATRIS" (UMBRELLAS) WITH INTRICATE EMBRODERY AND MIRROR ARE SOLD. AN ADDED ATTRACTION IN THE LIVELY FOLK DANCE PERFORMANCE SUCH AS - GARBA, RAS, HERO.

                                                                    OCTOBER

                   NAVRATRI (ALL OVER INDIA) : NAVRATRI IS THE LONGEST HINDU FESTIVAL THAT CONTINUES FOR NINE CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS IN PRAISE OF LORD RAMA. CONTINUOUS CHANTING FROM THE GREAT EPIC RAMAYANA, ALONG WITH EVENING PERFORMANCES FROM THE EPISODES OF HIS LIFE, IS HELD FOR NINE DAYS. IT IS A COMBINATION OF MANY CONCEPTS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT DURGA, THE GODDESS OF POWER AND VITALITY, HAS NINE FROM CALLED NAVADURGA AND ON EACH DAY OF THE NINE DAYS, SHE TAKES A NEW FORM, CALLED NAVADURGA AND ON EACH DAY OF THE NINE DAYS, SHE TAKES A NEW FORM, WITH AN ARSENAL OF WEAPONS, TO RIDE A LION AND FIGHT THE DEMON MAHISHASURA. VIJAYDASHMI OR DUSSEHRA, THE 10TH DAY, IS CELEBRATED WITH FEASTING AND REJOICING AS HER DAY OF VICTORY. LORD RAMA IS SAID TO HAVE WORSHIPPED THE GODDESS, SEEKING HER BELOVED IN ORDER TO OVERPOWER THE EVIL FORCE OF RAVANA, THE ABDUCTOR OF HIS BELOVED SITA. THE MOST JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF NAVARATRI IS SEEN IN GUJARAT, KARNATAKA, TAMILNADU AND BENGAL. EVERY NIGHT PEOPLE GATHER IN COURTYARDS TO DANCE THE DANDIYA RAAS AND GARBA, A COMMUNITY DANCE IN WHICH MEN AND WOMEN DRESSED IN FESTIVE CLOTHES, DANCE IN PAIRS WITH DANDIYAS OR PAINTED WOODEN STICKS.

                     

                             DURGA PUJA (BENGAL) : IS PERFORMED DURING THE NINE DAYS OF NAVRATRI. COMMUNITY PUJAS IN BENGAL ARE ORGANISED IN EVERY LOCALITY. FAMILIES VISIT EACH OTHERS TO SHARE FEASTS. ON BIJOYA DAY, THE IDOLS ARE TAKEN IN ELABORATE PROCESSIONS FOR IMMERSION IN THE RIVER OR THE SEA.

                     DUSSEHRA (ALL OVER INDIA) : IS CELEBRATED TO MARK THE HOMECOMING OF LORD RAMA. THE RAMLIA - AN - ENACTMENT OF THE LIFE OF LORD RAMA, IS HELD NINE DAYS BEFORE DUSSEHRA.

                      ON THE TENTH DAY, LARGER THAN LIFE EFFIGIES OF RAVANA, HIS BROTHERS MEGHNATH AND KUMBHKARNA FILLED WITH DIFFERENT FIRE CRACKERS ARE SET ALIGHT TO CELEBRATE THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL. IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, A WEEK LONG FAIR AT KULLU IS A PART OF THE DUSSEHRA CELEBRATIONS. FROM THE LITTLE TEMPES IN THE HILLS, DEITIES ARE BROUGHT IN PROCESSION TO THE KULLU MAIDAN WITH LOT OF GAIETY, MUSIC AND COLOUR. THE PRESIDING DEITY IS LORD RAGHUNATHJI.

                MYSORE IS ILLUMINATED WITH LIGHTS FOR DESSEHRA. MAJESTIC PROCESSIONS, A TORCH LIGHT PARADE AND DANCE AND MUSICAL EVENTS ENLIVEN THE TRANQUIL CITY.

                 MARWAR FESTIVAL (JODHPUR) IS A FESTIVAL DEVOTED MAINLY TO THE MUSIC AND DANCE OF THE MARWAR REGION. THE FESTIVAL WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE "MAAN FESTIVAL". HELD FOR TWO DAYS ON FULL MOON-SHARED PURNIMA, FORK ARTISTS BRING TO LIFE THE MYTH, LEGEND AND FOLKLORE OF THE AREA.

                                                            NOVEMBER

                    SHARAD PURNIMA : (ALL OVER INDIA) IS A HARVES FESTIVAL WHEN LAXMI, THE GODDESS OF PROSPERITY, VISITS ALL HOMES TO BRING FORTUNE AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL. KOJAGIRI, THE SPECIAL NIGHT, IS CELEBRATED WITH ICE-COLD, SAFFRON-FLOVOURED SWEET MILK, SHARED IN THE COOL MOONLIGHT. THE FULL MOON NIGHT IS CALLED NAVANA PURNIMA OR THE MOONLIT NIGHT FOR NEW FOOD. THE NEWLY HARVESTED RICE IS OFFERED TO THE GODS AND LAMPS ARE LIT BEFORE THE FULL MOON.

                 DIWALI : (ALL OVER INDIA) : THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF INDIAN FESTIVALS. IT COMES 21 DAYS AFTER DESSEHRA AND CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF LORD RAMA TO AYODHYA AFTER HIS 14-YEAR EXILE. HOMES ARE DECORATED, SWEETS ARE DISTRIBUTED BY EVERYONE AND THOUSANDS OF LAMPS LIT IN HOUSES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY MAKING IT A NIGHT OF ENCHANTMENT. DOORWAYS ARE HUNG WITH TORANS (A DECORATIVE GARLAND FOR THE DOOR) ARE DAWN WITH DIFFERENT COLOURED POWDERS TO WELCOME GUESTS. WORSHIP OF GODDESS LAKSHMI, THE GODDESS OF WEALTH, AND FIREWORKS AND FESTIVALS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE OCCASION.

                GURU PURAB (NORTH INDIA) : THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GURU NANAK = THE FIRST GURU OF THE SIKHS WHO FOUNDED THE SIKH FAITH, IS CELEBRATED WITH GREAT FERVOUR. THE "AKHAND PATH" - RECITATION OF THE SIKH HOLY BOOK, GURU GRANTH SAHIB, IS HELD IN GURDWARAS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. TAKING THE HOLY BOOK OUT IN PROCESSION, IS ALSO AN INTEGRA PART OF THE CELEBRATIONS. LANGARS (COMMUNITY FEASTS) ARE ORGANISED WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL CASTES SIT TOGETHER TO EAT AND SING HYMNS FROM THE GURU GRANTH SAHIB. THE CELEBRATIONS AT AMRITSAR ARE ESPECIALLY IMPRESSIVE.

               KA POMBLANG NONGREM : (MEGHALAYA) IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVAL OF THE KHASIS IN MEGHALAYA. THIS FIVE DAY LONG FESTIVAL, HELD ANNUALLY NEAR SHILLONG, IS AN OCCASION FOR THANKGIVING FOR A GOOD HARVEST AND THE TIME TO PRAY FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY. KHASI MEN AND WOMEN, DRESSED IN TRADITIONAL SPLENDOUR, PERFORM THE FAMOUS NONGKREM DANCE.

             SONEPUR FAIR : (SONEPUR BIHAR) ASIA'S BIGGEST CATTLE FAIR IS HELD AT SONEPUR, ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER GANGA. DURING THIS MONTH-LONG FAIR, CATTLE, DECORATED FOR THE OCCASION, SWARM THE VENUE.

                PUSHKKAR FAIR : (PUSHKAR, RAJASTHAN) IS HELD EVERY YEAR AT PUSHKAR, NEAR AJMER. THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS COME TO BATHE IN THE HOLY WATERS OF THE PUSHKAR LAKE. TRADING OF CATTLE, CAMEL RACES AND DAZZLING DISPLAYS OF BANGLES, BRASSWARE, CLOTHES, CAME SADDLES AND HALTERS ARE THE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS OF THIS COLOURFUL EVEN WHICH LASTS FOR TWELVE DAYS.

               HAMPI FESTIVAL : THE MAGNIFICENT RUINED CITY OF HAMPI, ONCE THE CAPITAL OF THE VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE, COME ALIVE ONCE AGAIN DURING THIS LIVELY FESTIVAL OF DANCE AND MUSIC, HELD IN THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER.

      

                                                              DECEMBER

                   CHRISTMAS : ( ALL OVER INDIA) IS CELEBRATED BY THE CHRISTIANS AND NON-CHRISTIANS ALIKE WITH SPECIAL ENTHUSIASM. ALL THE MAJOR INDIAN CITIES WEAR A FESTIVE LOOK. SHOPS AND BAZAARS ARE DECORATED FOR THE OCCASION AND OFFER ATTRACTIVE BARGIANS. CAROL SINGING, GET-TOGETHER AND THE EXCHANGING OF GIFTS ENHANCE THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, CHRISTMAS PARTIES LAUNCH OF CELEBRATIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR, THUS RETAINING THE FESTIVE MOOD FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.

                     KONARK DANCE FESTIVAL : (KONARK, ORISSA) KONARK FESTIVAL IN THE SUN TEMPLE, KONARK, OFFERS AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE EVERY DECEMBER 5TH. A HOST OF CELEBRATED DANCERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY PERFORM ON THE TEMPLE PLATFORM OR BEACH.

                THE SOUND OF GHUNGROO BELLS, FLUTE AND PAKHAUJ FILL THE AIR AND A MARVELOUS CRAFTS MELA, WITH A VARIETY OF HANDICRAFTS AND DELECTABLE CUISINE, ADDS TO THE FESTIVE MOOD.

                                                                            👀👀👀