श्री गणेश मंदिर - शिक्षा वाणी – 23rd June 2019
Serene Sunday
Reflections
RITUALS
KEYWORDS :: Rituals, Ishta
Poortha, Offering, Dhaynam, Yoga, Pooja, Kriya, Temple
Rituals
when we say, it is Pooja that comes to everyone’s mind. Pooja is the Offering
for /to God. Last week we reflected upon Best offering to man kind as Vidya-dhaanam
(Education). Rituals are also called service, service is in fact the dhaanam.
Thus rituals are the thanks giving service offers to God, by which one gets
into the Dharana level among the Ashtanga Yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama,
Prathyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi). Thus can get to the Dhyana and then may
attain Samadhi (Meditation). I may differ from the well known Yoga (Yoga asana
– Physical Exercises) and the Meditation (as is popular these days that one can
do in group and one teaches to other).
We
reflected earlier on ISHTA POORTHA as SANATHANA DHARMA. ISHTA Karma are all
rituals as service to God. Agnihothram is most important (Ritualistic thanks
giving to SUN, the prime GOD). Here a part of his (SUN) blessings – a bit of
rice and ghee – is offered to him back saying it is all due to him (SOORYAYA
SWAHA, SOORYAYA IDAM NAMAMA). Taking care of Guests and Learning Vedic lessons etc.
are all considered as rituals (ISHTA KARMA).
agnihothram thapa
sathyam vedaanaam chaanupaalanam
aadithyam vaisyadhevam cha ishta
ithyabhitheeyathe
All VAIDIKA ACHARA (offering to fire) with
SWAHA (let sun eat this) offering HAVIS (material) is a major ritual at home
and temple too. But mostly in Temples; PAURANIKA ARADHANA on VIGRAHA (Deity) is
what is followed. Vaidika is more veda manthra
oriented and self and the universe as part of the ritual. While Temple / Pauranika / Kshethra Aradhana
(ritual) is more of a public and utility oriented.
In any ritual – that is offering to GOD as
service / thanks giving – ultimately is with DHARANA and to attain dharana
(Concentration) so that one can reach to DHYANA. This is possible only when you are doing with
the dharana (feeling / presumption) that; it is all done due to him, by him, to
him. Next two slokas explains this
कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात् ।
kayena vacha manasendriayirva
bhudhyathmana va prakruthe swabhavath
करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै गुरुवरायेति समर्पयामि ॥
karomi yadhyathsakalam parasmai gururvarayethi samarpayami
Meaning :: All these rituals I am into with
my Body, Speech, Mind or Sense Organs, using
my Intellect, Feelings of Heart or (unconsciously) through
the natural tendencies of my Mind, I do all
for others (i.e. without the sense of attachment to the results), and
I Surrender them to YOU Supreme Guru (MOSTLY for the GOD/GODESSES
that you are keeping in SANKALPA).
While and when all the rituals are done as
POOJA with manthra and the activity of offering (KRIYA) with full BHAKTHI
(devotion) there could be errors in the rituals; here it says it is all DUE TO
HIM (THE GOD Thyself).
मन्त्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं जनार्दन यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे
manthraheenam
kriyaheenam bhaktiheenam janardhana yath-poojitham maya deva paripoornam
thadasthu me
This
sloka thus unambiguously says Rituals are one that is done FOR HIM, BY HIM, DUE
TO HIM and thus one who does raises to the level of GOD. Does this not mean
that one must to do it almost SRADHA (concentration) and BHAVA (understanding
the inner meaning).
Unfortunate
that these days Ritual became a synonym for anything that one does casually
without attention. Most of the Rituals done in the temples too are without this
sradha (concentration). Thus next week we plan to reflect on the Temple Ritual
in Brief.
----- Next Week 30th June 2019 – TEMPLE RITUALS –-----
More
from DrTPS (www.drtps-shiksha.in / https://rare-news-collection.blogspot.com/) at
https://www.facebook.com/pg/hssicolumbus/posts/
+919502038875
No comments:
Post a Comment