Questions tagged [rituals]
For questions about customs and traditions in Hinduism (called "Karma kand", as opposed to "Gyana kand", which refers to the philosophical aspects of Hinduism).
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Is heaven/hell also geographically separated for different religions? [closed]
This question can go debatable, let's try to keep it sweet and short.
As per the different religion and rituals, they perform their own practices. At-last, when a person dies will he go to the heaven ...
2
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1answer
45 views
What does the priest say when offering prasad?
I understand that the prasad is offered 6 times and the priest says something each time. It sounds like:
Om Apanaaya Swahaa,
Om Udanaaya Swahaa,
...,
...,
...,
Om Bramhane Swahaa.
Can someone give ...
4
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2answers
70 views
Why do Hindus mourns for 13 days?
The normal practice of hinduism is that the family of dead ones mourn for 13 days when someone dies. Is there any reason behind it? How did our ancestors decided 13 days time period to mourn? Why not ...
4
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0answers
95 views
Can someone explain me the meaning and process of passing hands upon fire then on the face?
I'm very new to hinduism, and I have seen this happening several times, but I cannot find any info about it.
Thanks a lot.
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113 views
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1answer
31 views
Visarjana Mantra or Stotram for Shivapuja
I would very much appreciate the Sanskritam (Devanagari), transliterated, and English for a visarjana mantra or stotram for Shivapuja.
3
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0answers
42 views
Are there other instances of agni-pariksha in vedic scriptures?
We all know the famous agni-pariksha of Srimati Sita Devi from Sri Valmiki Ramayana, so I was wondering are there any other instances of Agni-pariksha described in vedas, puranas or itihasas?
3
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1answer
73 views
Multiple Marriages in a family in the same year
If two brothers of same family get married in two dates and two places in the same samvatsara (an year in Hindu calendar), will this be auspicious or unauspicious ? If it's unauspicious, what is the ...
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0answers
53 views
How does tantra work?
I am trying to understand how mantra - yantra - tantra works ? After googling for few days I got a fair understanding that it is the use of sound and mantras have some words combined in such a way ...
3
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1answer
145 views
Rules to be followed for wearing the Sacred thread / Janeu
What are the rules that one must observe to wear the Yagnopaveetham ? Would prefer if appropriate text is also quoted.
4
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1answer
87 views
Why the head of a dead person is hit when the body was consigned to the flames?
As a ritual, during Antyeṣṭi, the dead person's head is hit with a bamboo stick in between the burning of the whole body. As far as my understanding goes, this is done so that the person won't ...
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1answer
47 views
Is the Bramhamuhurta timing different for mumbai and delhi?
Bramhamuhurta time is same pan India?
What shall one do in Bramhamuhurta?
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1answer
114 views
Can I do Pitru Paksha rituals while my parents are still alive?
I would like to do Pitru Paksha rituals, such as offering black til seeds and water to my ancestors, like my grandfather and great grandfather and maternal grandmother. My paternal grandmother and my ...
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69 views
Why does lord shiva like abhishekam?
At many places I have heard that lord shiva likes abhishekam so much and also he blesses the devotees with their desires. Why does shiva like abhishekam so much?
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1answer
70 views
Can someone do Upanayan ritual later in life say post 25 years of age?
Heard some priests saying 8 to 16 years for Brahmins, till 22 for Kshatriya and 24 for vaishya, is the limit for upananya.
But what if someone does after that or priest says no he won't do it as the ...
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1answer
54 views
Does the story about Ṛbhus indicate practice of religious rituals other than Spirituality in Vedic era?
Rig veda I.110 says about Ṛbhus
When, seeking your enjoyment onward from afar, ye, certain of my kinsmen, wandered on your way, Sons of Sudhanvan, after your long journeying, ye came unto the home of ...
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2answers
156 views
What is the reason behind men/women tying a waist band?
I have seen many men wearing a waist band or thread around their waist, red or black color. It's called Karbuta in Marathi. Is there any significance behind wearing it?
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1answer
74 views
Are the rituals, puja methods, dieties artis mentioned anywhere in Hindu scriptures? [closed]
Do these things exist anywhere in Hindu scriptures (Vedas, upnishads, Geeta etc.)?
Or are they later created by Brahmins?
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97 views
How did Hindu scholars determine that North America is Kraunchadvipa?
According to the Hindu scriptures, there are 7 continents or dvipas named:
Jambu ("Indian Blackberry tree")
Plaksha ("Ficus religiosa (Peepal) tree")
Shalmali ("Bombax tree")
Kusha ("grass")
Kraunca (...
2
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0answers
60 views
Is it okay to dispose a dog's dead body in the river?
My dog passed away last night and as far as the rituals in my family are concerned, we have to dispose the dead body into the river. But most of my relatives and friends are now saying we should have ...
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0answers
29 views
What is the significance of Deep Amavasya?
Today is Deep Amavasya and many people in Maharashtra worship and light up diyas or earthen lamps in their homes at night. I want to know what is the significance of this festival and what are the ...
2
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0answers
27 views
Is there any description regarding the Kanwar Yatra in our holy books? [duplicate]
Today I was checking Twitter and there was a trending hashtag regarding Kanwar which telling that Kanwar yatra is not mentioned anywhere in Hindu holy books.
So is there anything in our holy books?
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0answers
80 views
Tharpanam on the Grahanam day
When should we have to do tarpanam on the grahanam or the eclipse day. Do we have to do before the start of Grahanam or after Moksha ?
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2answers
120 views
What is the significance of Ashadi Ekadashi?
What is the significance of Ashadi Ekadashi (Shukla paksha)? What are we supposed to do on this day?
3
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1answer
172 views
Is Sandhyavandanam different for each vedic line/shakha brahmin?
Is sandhyavandanam ritual different for each vedic line? Or is it same for all brahmins no matter what veda they belong to?
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1answer
152 views
Every Brahmin does aachman (purification) in the name of Vishnu. Then on whose name shukracharya will do so (aachman)?
Is shukracharya does aachman in the name of Vishnu or any other way? Because every Brahmin does aachman in the name of Vishnu. So what about shukracharya who hates Vishnu.
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1answer
116 views
Death formalities done under wrong Gotra
I want to know what happens if all the death related formalities ie, Puja, Antim Sanskar, Pind daan, Asthi Visarjan, etc are done unknowingly using wrong gotra. Are there any remedies mentioned in any ...
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0answers
32 views
What is ShiroVrata (a vow of holding fire on head)?
Ending of Mundaka Upanishad talks about śirovrata (शिरोव्रत):
तदेतदृचाऽभ्युक्तम् ।
क्रियावन्तः श्रोत्रिया ब्रह्मनिष्ठाः
स्वयं जुह्वत एकर्षिं श्रद्धयन्तः ।
तेषामेवैतां ब्रह्मविद्यां वदेत
शिरो...
4
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1answer
101 views
Where in the Vedas do we find : 'aharahah sandhyAm upAsita'?
In Ahnik-Krutya, Shyamacharana Kaviratna Vidyavaridhi mentions that 'aharahah sandhyAm upAsita' (Sandhya should be worshipped everyday) is a Vedic instruction. But he did not mention where exactly in ...
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0answers
41 views
Permanent sutak on festivals
In my ancestory, no one celebrates Diwali. The reason for this is given that a long time ago a female member died on the day of Diwali. In the Garud Purana, there is description about period of Sutak ...
2
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1answer
82 views
What would be the Sankalpa Mantras if Tarpana should be performed in Bangkok?
I am a tamil brahmin from chennai going to live in Bangkok for 3 months. I must do the Amavasya tharpanams. What is the Sankalpam to be followed.that is I am looking for substituion to Baharatha ...
3
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0answers
143 views
Should we remove gemstone while sleeping? Any other situation where we should remove it?
When should we remove gemstones? Should we remove them at night while sleeping? Should we remove them while having sex and bath?
I know that during funerals we should remove them, but apart from that ...
5
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1answer
460 views
How is the Antim Sanskar of unmarried hindu Women done?
What is the procedure of Antim Sanskar when a married women dies? Does she dress like a bride? Who gives the agni to her pyre?
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0answers
51 views
Difference between Archna and pooja
There are two "distinct" words used for worship, in Sanskrit, namely अर्चना and पूजा.
What is the basic difference between the two and their implementation, by a साधक (devotee) ?
Also, please tell ...
2
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1answer
84 views
Why do we perform this ritual at someone's death bed?
When a person is about to die and leave his mortal body it is said that we must put gangajal i.e. water of holy river Ganga and tulsipatra i.e. leaves of sacred Tulsi plant in the person's mouth. What ...
4
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1answer
85 views
Is washing clothes in Ganga not allowed?
I was reading a newspaper article about river Ganga and it said that in ancient scriptures it was mentioned that Ganga must not be polluted and clothes must be washed at a distance from her. No one ...
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1answer
60 views
Days of week by names of planets?
Is there any significance of Hindu days of week named by planets?
And that each day, people are suggested to do certain activities to please the planet god, such as Shani?
Also, do the Hindu days ...
4
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1answer
423 views
Who should do Antim Sanskar (funeral rites) of married woman?
Who should do the rituals of antim sanskar of a married woman - her son or her husband? And who should give the mukhagni?
2
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0answers
42 views
Why the rituals pertaining to birth, upanayan, marriage and death are different among the Hindus?
Why the rituals pertaining to birth, upanayan, marriage and death are different among the Hindus? Is there a different sanction when it comes to rituals? Even among the Brahmins there is NO uniform ...
3
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2answers
328 views
What is Bhuta Yajna?
What is the definition of Bhuta Yajna?
Who should do it and how?
What is to sacrifice in this yajna?
Is it part of the daily rituals?
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2answers
137 views
What daily practices (achara - anushtana) should a brahmana follow?
Brahamanas (at least orthodox followers) are expected to follow a ton of daily achara & anushtana, for e.g.
Anushtana:
Get up during brahma muhurta
Do Pratah-Sandhya before sun-rise
Do Ijyai (...
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0answers
37 views
What is the reason behind tonsuring?
I've heard varying reasons behind tonsuring, some that it is a way of shedding one's ego, others that the hair is a sacrifice. Which reasoning is correct?
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1answer
2k views
Can a groom touch the feet of the bride during marriage?
In some hindu marriages I see couples durning the feet touching practice, once the bride bends down, touches the groom's feet and gets back up, the groom then bends down and touches the feet of the ...
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1answer
65 views
Is changing or altering rituals allowed in Hinduism?
I hear some people say as time changes rituals need to change in order to make them compatible with the modern world.
Is it possible to change or alter rituals that are found in scriptures followed ...
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4answers
421 views
Which chapters of Bhagavad Gita should be read for Shanti of the departed ancestors?
What are the specific chapters of Bhagavad Gita that should be read for the Shanti of the departed ancestors/ family members ?
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0answers
39 views
What is Straishuya karma and how to perform it?
This answer says that Pumsavana Karma is a ritual conducted for getting a male child. Somewhere I heard that similar to this ritual, there is also a ritual called Straishuya Karma which can be ...
4
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2answers
69 views
What is the order of cremation rights?
I know that the eldest son takes precedence. What happens in case of someone who dies without sons? Can daughters cremate their dead father?
4
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1answer
260 views
What is the purpose of Maa Baglamukhi Yantra?
Recently heard about 'Maa Baglamukhi Yantra' so was curious to know more about this yantra.
My questions:
What exactly is the purpose of this yantra?
Who was the first person who used or we can say ...
2
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0answers
86 views
What is the agama/tantra being followed at the Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayur in Kerala?
When were the rituals in Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayur, Kerala standardized to current form? Who was responsible for that? Which agamas/tantras are followed in the temple while performing rituals to ...
4
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1answer
373 views
Difference between Naishtika Brahmacharya and Sanyasa
What is the difference between Naishtika Brahmacharya and Sanyasa. Specifically in the context of 'Agni'. Since Sanyasa involves 'agni-tyaga'. Does Naishtika Brahmacharya also involve 'Agni-tyaga'?
