SADHANA STEPS (STEP FROM 31 TO 36)

  

                                                              STEP 31

                                             FIRE OFFERING (YAJNA)

                   FIRE OFFERINGS HAVE BEEN DETAILED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THIS APPENDIX. THE NUMBER OF FIRE OFFERINGS SHOULD BE ONE-TENTH OF YOUR MANTRA CHANTING.

                                                         STEP 32

                                       LIBERATIONS (TARPANA)

                  TARAPANA  ARE WATER OFFERINGS OR LIBERATIONS - AS THEY ARE USUALLY CALLED - MADE TO THE DEITY OF YOUR MANTRA. ONE-TENTH OF YOUR YAJNA IS YOUR LIBERATION COUNT. ADD "OM TARPYAMI" AT THE END OF GAYATRI MANTRA WHILE CHANTING.

                                                               STEP 33

                                CORONATION (MARJANA OR ABHISHEKAM)

                        THE NUMBER OF  OFFERINGS DONE IN MARJANA IS ONE-TENTH THE NUMBER OF LIBERATIONS. TO DO  MARJANA, TAKE VESSEL NUMBER TWO CONTAINING WATER. JOINING YOUR THUMB AND RING FINGER, DIP IT IN WATER AND SPRINKLE ON YOUR HEAD WITH THE SAME MUDRA.

                      IN THE END, YOU CAN EITHER OFFER THIS WATER TO THE SUN OR POUR IT AT THE ROOT OF ANY TREE. BOTH ARE EQUALLY EFFECTIVE.

                                                          STEP 34

 

                CHARITY (SADHAK BHOJAN OR BRAHMIN BHOJAN)

                 SADHAK BHOJAN IS USALLY DONE NOT EVERY DAY OF YOUR SADHANA BUT ON EHT LAST DAY WHEN YOU COMPLETE YOUR SADHANA. THE IDEA IS TO FEED GOD PRESENT IN LIVING ENTITIES. IT IS ALSO A MOMENT OF CELEBRATION TO MARK THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF YOUR INTENSE ROUTINE SPREAD OVER SO MANY DAYS. IN THE OLDEN TIMES, AN ASPIRANT WOULD EITHER BE PART OF A GURUKUL WHERE THERE WOULD BE OTHER ASPIRANTS AND FEEDING THEM WOULD BE ENOUGH. OR, AN ASPIRANT WOULD GATHER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF BRAHMINS. THEY WOULD COME TOGETHER AND WITH BEAUTIFUL VEDIC CHANTS ENERGIZE THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT. THE ASPIRANT WOULD FEED THEM.

 

                  DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DO EITHER. SO, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH EQUALLY EFFECTIVE. SIMPLY SET ASIE WHATEVER YOU CAN EVERY DAY, AN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WOULD BUY AT LEAST ONE MEAL FOR A PERSON OR WHATEVER YOU CAN REASONABLY AFFORD. IF YOU ARE REALLY PRESSED FINANCIALLY AND CAN'T SET ASIDE EVEN RS.50 OR A DOLLAR A DAY, THEN SIMPLY SET ASIDE A HANDFUL OF DRY FRUITS EVERY DAY. AT THE END OF YOUR SADHANA, OFFER THEM TO A FELLOW ASPIRANT WHO IS ALSO WALKING THE PATH. IF YOU CAN'T FIND THAT, OFFER IT TO A BRAHMIN WHO SERVES IN A TEMPLE OR CHANTS VEDIC MANTRAS DAILY. IF YOU CAN'T FIND THAT BRAHMIN, THEN OFFER IT TO ANY ORPHANAGE. IF THERE IS NO ORPHANAGE, YOU CAN GIVE IT TO ANY OLD-AGE HOME. IF YOU CAN'T FIND EVEN THAT, FEED IT TO THE BIRDS. IF BY SOME RARE CHANCE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT EITHER, THEN IMMERSE THE OFFERINGS IN A STREAM, RIVER OR THE OCEAN. THE IDEA IS THAT SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOU OR OTHER THAN YOUR OWN FAMILY SHOULD PARTAKE OF YOUR OFFERING SO WHATEVER YOU DID TANGIBLY ALSO HELPS SOMEONE ELSE.

                      

                                                                   STEP 35

                                    SEEK AGAIN (KSHAMA PRARTHANA)

                      REPEAT THE HYMN OF FORGIVENESS AS IN STEP NUMBER 30 FOR THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISTAKES IN YOUR ACTIONS FROM STEP 31-34.

                                                                   STEP 36

                                  OFFER WATER TO THE SUN (SURYA ARGHYA)

                  STEP OUTSIDE AND OFFER THE WATER TO THE SUN. YOU SHOULD DO THIS BY FACING THE SUN. IF DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS OR THE TIME OF THE DAY YOU CAN'T SEE THE SUN, SIMPLY FACE THE DIRECTIONSTHE SUN RISES IN. CHANTING THE MANTRA OF YOUR DEITY, SIMPLY RAISE THE VESSEL OF WATER ABOVE YOUR HEAD AND POUR IT IN ON THE GROUND.

                                                                           👀👀👀

SADHANA STEPS

 

                                                            

                                                          👀 STEP 25 👀

   

                       MEDITATE ON YOUR MANTRA (MANTRA DHYANA)

                YOU ARE ONLY ONE STEP AWAY FROM STARTING YOUR MANTRA CHANTING NOW. DHYANA IS MEDITATING ON THE DEITY OF THE MANTRA BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR JAPA. PERSONALLY, I KEEP IT VERY SIMPLE AND MEDITATE UPON HER USING CORE MANTRA. YOU CAN DO THE SAME.

                             👀 SANSKRIT 👀

            OM BHURBHUVAH SVAH

            TATSAVITURVARENYAMA

            BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI

            DHIYO YO NAH PRACODAYATA

                        👀 TRANSLATION👀

                   MAY WE ABIDE IN THE SUPREME ENERGY THAT IS ETERNAL, TRANSCENDENTAL, RADIANT, PERFECT, DIVINE. MAY SUCH DIVINE GRACE ALWAYS GUIDE US ON THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

                                                                 STEP 26

                              MANTRA CHANTING (MOOLA MANTRA JAPA)

                  THE CHANTING BEGINS AT THIS STEP. NOW YOU DIP YOUR HAND INTO THE BEAD BAG (GAUMUKHI) AND START CHANTING THE MANTRA AS PER YOUR SANKALPA.

                                                               STEP 27

 

                              POST-JAPA HANLOCKS (UTTARA MUDRA)

              ONCE YOUR JAPA IS COMPLETE, THE MUDRAS POST THE SADHANA ARE SHOW NOW. THERE ARE EIGHT HANDLOCKS (MUDRAS) THAT ARE SHOWN AT THE COMPETION OF YOUR JAPA. RATHER THAN SHOWING THE STANDARD HANDLOCKS AS STATED IN ESSENTIAL STEPS IN THE RITES OF INVOCATION (PURUSHCHARANA).

                                                              STEP 28

                           OFFER YOUR CHANTING (JAPA SAMARPANA)

           WHEN YOUR JAPA IS COMPLETE, IT SHOULD BE OFFERED TO THE DEITY OF THE MANTRA SO ITS VIBRATIONS ARE RELEASED IN THE UNIVERSE AND IT MAY BE USED FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL SENTIENT BEINGS. OFFER YOUR PRAYER IN THE LEFT HAND OF DEVI WITH THE MANTRA BELOW:

                       SANSKRIT

             ABHISTA SIDDHIM ME DEHI

             SARANAGATA VATSALE, BHAKTYA

            SAMARPAYE TUBHYAM

            JAPAMEVARCANAM

                    TRANSLATION

                  PLEASE GRANT ME YOUR BENEDICTION (THE DESIRED OUTCOME) O DEVI, REFUGE OF THE ONE WHO SEEKS YOU, YOUR DEVOTEE HERE SURRENDERS AND OFFERS ALL MY JAPA AND PRAYERS TO YOU.

               YOU CAN CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRA AFTER OFFERING YOUR CHANTING TO REINFORCE THAT YOU PRAY FOR THE WELFARE OF EVERYONE AROUND YOU.

                           SANSKRIT

               OM SARVE BHAVANTU SUKHINAH

               SARVE SANTU NIRAMAYAH

               SARVE BHADRANI PASYANTU

              MA KASCIDDUKHABHAGBHAVET

              OM SANTIH SANTIH SANTIH

 

                       TRANSLATION

  

               MAY ALL SENTIENT BEINGS AT PEACE,

               MAY NO ONE SUFFER FROM ILLNESS,

               MAY ALL SEE WHAT IS AUSPICIOUS,

               MAY NO ONE SUFFER.

               OM PEACE, PEACE, PEACE.

                                                                   STEP 29

                                        FREE ALL ENERGIES (VISARJANA)

                    IN THIS STEP, THANKING THE ENERGIES OF THE DIETY WHO PRESENTED THEMSELVES WHILE YOU PROPITIATED THE DIVINE ENERGY AND CHANTED YOUR MANTRA, WE ALLOW THOSE ENERGIES TO RETURN TO THEIR ABODE. IT CAN BE DONE WITH ANY WORDS YOU SO WISH TO CHOOSE OR YOU CAN CHANT THE SIMPLE MANTRA BELOW:

 

                              IF PRAYING TO THE FEMININE ENERGY (DEVI)

                                                           SANSKRIT

                       GACCHA GACCHA PARAM STHANAM

                       SVASTHANAM PARAMESVARI

                       PUJARADHANAKALE CA

                       PUNARAGAMANAYA CA

                       TISTHA TISTHA PARASTHANE

                       SVASTHANE PARAMESVARI

                       YATRA BRAHMADAYO DEVAH SARVE

                       TISTHANTI ME HRDI

 

                                                          TRANSLATION

                   MAY ALL ENERGIES RETURN TO THEIR ABODE AND I HUMBLY REQUEST YOUR PRESENCE AGAIN WHEN I PRAY TO YOU NEXT. MAY ALL ENERGIES TAKE THEIR SEATS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ABODES. MAY THE SUPREME ENERGY RESIDE IN MY HEART.

                                                              STEP 30

                             SEEK FORGIVENESS (KSHAMA PRARTHANA)

                        ONCE AGAIN, YOU CAN SEEK FORGIVENESS WITH ANY WORDS YOU WISH TO USE, FOR SENTIMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT LANGUAGE OR YOU CAN USE THE VERSES BELOW TO DO THIS.

                                         👀   SANSKRIT 👀

                  APARADHASAHASTRANI

                 KRIYANTESHARNISAM MAYA

                 DASOSYAMITI MAM MATVA

                 KSAMASVA PARAMESRVARI 

                 AVAHANAM NA JANAMI NA

                 JANAMI VISARJANAM

                 PUJAM CAIVA NA JANAMI

                 KSAMYATAM PARAMESRVARI

                MANTRAHINAM KRIYAHINAM

                BHAKTIHINAM SURESRVARI

                YATPUJITAM MAYA DEVI

               PARIPURNA TADASTU ME

                                           👀 TRANSLATION👀

                O DEVI, I MUST HAVE COMMITTED THOUSANDS OF MISTAKES AND ERRORS IN CHANTING YOUR NAMES. PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR MY ERRORS LIKE A GOOD MASTER FORGIVES HIS SERVANT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO INVITE YOU NOR DO I KNOW HOW TO SEE YOU OFF. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRAY TO YOU, PLEASE FOLLOW ME FOR MY IGNORANCE.  

              I AM WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF MANTRAS, ACTIONS OR DEVOTION, O GODDESS, AND YET, I DARE TO PRAY TO YOU. PLEASE GRANT ME YOUR GRACE.

                                                                               ❤❤❤

             

SADHANA STEPS

 

                                                                  STEP 21

              PRELIMINARY MANTRA CHANTING (PURVA MANTRA JAPA)

                  ONCE YOU HAVE MENTALLY ESTABLISHED YOURSELF AS THE DEITY AND HAVE COMPLETED THE PROCESS, CHANT THE GAYATRI MANTRA 16 TIMES.

                                                                 STEP 22

                          PRELIMINARY HANDLOCKS (PURVA MUDRAS)

                 MUDRAS ARE HANDLOCKS AND THEY ARE USED TO CAPTURE THE ENERGY OF THE MANTRA. GAYATRI SADHANA HAS 24 HANDLOCKS THAT ARE PERFORMED BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE CHANTING AND 8 THAT AREPERFORMED AFTER YOU ARE DONE CHANTING.

                      THE 24 PRELIMINARY HANDLOCKS ARE AS FOLLOWS :

               HANDLOCK (MUDRA)                       GESTURE WITH BOTH HANDS

             (SAMUKHAM)                                                 TURN YOUR PALM DOWNWARDS AND 

                                                                                         JOIN ALL THE FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS.

             (SAMPUTAM)                                                   FORM A BRACKET WITH YOUR PALMS                                                                                                FACING EACH OTHER.

             (VITATAM)                                                        OPEN YOUR HANDS AND LET BOTH                                                                                                    PALMS FACE EACH OTHER.

            (VISTRAM)                                                        INCREASE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN                                                                                                   YOUR PALMS FROM THE PREVIOUS                                                                                                      MUDRA AND TURN THEM SLIGHTLY UP.

           (DVIMUKHAM)                                                  JOIN LITTLE AND RING FINGERS OF                                                                                                    BOTH HANDS.

          (TRIMUKHAM)                                                    KEEPING THE EARLIER MUDRA INTACT,                                                                                            JOIN MIDDLE FINGERS AS WELL NOW.

        (CATURMUKHAM)                                               KEEPING THE PREVIOUS MUDRA AS IT                                                                                              IS, JOIN THE INDEX FINGERS AS WELL.

       (PANCAMUKHAM)                                               NOW JOIN THE THUMBS TOO.

       (SANMUKHAM)                                                   KEEPING YOUR HANDS JOINED, NOW                                                                                               UNJOIN AND SPREAD THE THUMBS AND                                                                                            LITTLE FINGERS.

      (ADHOMUKHAM)                                               BEND YOUR FINGERS AND TURN YOUR                                                                                            HANDS OVER SO THE BACK OF THE                                                                                                    RIGHT HAND FINGERS TOUCHES THE                                                                                                BACK OF LEFT HAND FINGERS.

     (VYAPAKANJALIKAM)                                       TURN THESE HANDS OVER AND SPREADS                                                                                        SO BOTH PALMS NOW FACE UPWARDS                                                                                              WITH HANDS TOGETHER.

    (SAKATAM)                                                            TURN YOUR HANDS OVER (PALMS                                                                                                      FACING  DOWN) AND JOIN THE INDEX                                                                                                FINGERS AND THUMBS.

  (YAMPASAM)                                                          ENTWINE YOUR INDEX FINGERS AND LET                                                                                       THE RIGHT HAND HANG.

   (GRATHITAM)                                                        ENTWINE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND FORM                                                                                         ONE FIST.

 (UNMUKHONMUKHAM)                                       BRING ALL FINGERS TOGETHER OF BOTH                                                                                         HANDS. FIRST, REST YOUR RIGHT HAND                                                                                           ON TOP OF THE LEFT AND THEN LEFT ON                                                                                         TOP OF THE RIGHT.

  (PRALAMBAM)                                                      TURN BOTH YOUR HANDS AND LET THE                                                                                           PALMS FACE DOWN. JOIN GENTLY AT THE                                                                                         TIP OF THE THUMBS.

 (MUSTIKAM)                                                           KEEP YOUR THUMBS OUT AND MAKE                                                                                                FISTS WITH BOTH HANDS.

(MATSYAH)                                                              REST YOUR RIGHT HAND ON YOUR LEFT                                                                                         (PALMS FACING DOWN). SPREAD YOUR                                                                                             THUMBS AND TWIDDLE YOUR THUMBS A                                                                                         BIT.

 (KURMAH)                                                             SPREAD YOUR LEFT HAND. TURN THE                                                                                               INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS KEEPING                                                                                             THE OTHER FINGERS EXTENTED. DO THE                                                                                         SAME WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND. NOW                                                                                               TURN  YOUR RIGHT HAND SO IT'S FACING                                                                                       DOWN AND LET IT REST ON YOUR LEFT                                                                                         WITH INDEX FINGERS, THUMBS AND                                                                                                 LITTLE FINGERS TOUCHING AT THE TIPS.                                                                                        THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF SHOWING                                                                                            THIS MUDRA BUT THIS IS THE ONE I                                                                                                  PRACTICE AND GOT FROM MY GURU.

  (VARAHAKAM)                                                 GRAB FOUR FINGERS OF YOUR LEFT HAND                                                                                      (EXCEPT YOUR THUMB) WITH RIGHT,                                                                                                 MIDDLE, RING AND LITTLE FINGERS. JOIN                                                                                       THE TIP OF THE RIGHT INDEX FINGER WITH                                                                                     THE LEFT THUMB.

(SIMHAKRANTAM)                                             RAISE BOTH YOUR HANDS AS IN                                                                                                         BENEDICTION, THE BACK OF YOUR PALMS                                                                                     FACING YOU. (LIKE IN HANDS UP POSTURE)

 (MAHAKRANTAM)                                            KEEP THE SAME POSTURE BUT TURN YOUR                                                                                    HANDS SO YOUR HANDS SO YOUR PALMS                                                                                        ARE FACING YOUR EARS.

 (MUDGARAM)                                                   MAKE A FIST WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND AND                                                                                   THEN REST THE RIGHT ELBOW ON YOUR                                                                                         LEFT.

 (PALLAVAM)                                                      RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO YOUR                                                                                                  SHOULDER IN BENEDICTION.

                                                                 STEP 23

                                                  OFFERINGS (UPCHARA)

                      MAKE FIVE OFFERINGS OF INCENSE, LAMP, ANYTHING EDIBLE, BETEL LEAF AND BETEL NUT. SAY, "OM SAMARPYAMI" IN THE END.

                                                                 STEP 24

                              INVOKE THE MANTRA (MANTRA SAMSKARA)

                    THE MANTRA OF GAYATRI WAS CURSED BY BRAHMA, VASISTHA AND VISHVAMITRA. THEREFORE, CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRAS SEVEN TIMES EVERY DAY BEFORE YOU DO THE MANTRA JAPA TO ABSOLVE THE MANTRA OF THE CURSE OF THE SAGES (SHAAP VIMOCHANA)

                                                             SANSKRIT 

                OM GAYATRIBRAHMETYUPASITA

                YADRUPAM BRAHMAVIDO VIDUH

                TAM PASYANTI

                DHIRAHSUMANASA

                VACAMAGRATAH

               OM VEDANTANATHAYA VIDDAHE

               HIRANYAGARBHAYA DHIMAHI

              TANNO BRAHMA PRACODAYAT

              OM DEVI GAYATRI TVAM

              BRAHMASAPAVIMUKTA BHAVA

                                                                               👀👀👀

          

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.

                                                                            👀👀👀