Description
- Author : Kashinath Upadhyaya with an English Introduction by Judo Rocher
About the book
This is a splendid Exegetical work, with liturgical overtones, encyclopedic in character in as much as nearly a thousand topics have been covered in about four hundred pages; but brevity without sacrificing clarity is its uniqueness.
HINDU RITUALS are numerous yet strictly followed by hundreds of orthodox families in their fullest details in the same manner as they had been practiced thousands of years ago. The guide lines have been amply provided for by the various SRAUTA SUTRAS, GRHYA SUTRAS, SMRTIS etc. but to the layman everything is baffling DHARMA SINDHU-SARA collects together all the topics, arranges them under the various headings and explains the procedure briefly but clearly.
There are THREE PARICCHEDAS, the first two, introductory in nature, accounting for only a fourth of the entire book and the third one nearly three fourths. TITHIS (Lunar days), NAKSHATRAS (Constellations), VARAS (Days of the week) and MASAS (months) and the mode of their calculations have been fully explained in the first PARICHEDA.
Well known by name but not so well known in the matter of their procedures, detailed characteristics and the like, are the various VRATAS (Observances) e.g. SANKRANTIS, NAVARATRAS, the various JAYANTIS, SRADDHAS, GANESA CATURTHI, TULASI PUJANA, ritualistic ablutions in the holy rivers, CATURMASYA VRATA, VYASA PUJA, NAGA PANCHAMI, UPAKARMAs, of the followers of the various SAKHAs of the VEDAS, the various PRAYASCITTAS, (expiatory ceremonies) for commissions, on omissions and the part of the householders and the others, RAKSA BANDHANA, MAHALAYA PAKSA, the various TARPANAS, (Libations), CANDI PATHA KARMA, SARASVATI PUJA etc. and allied topics. They are explained in detail in the second PARICCHEDA.
The first half of the 3rd PARICCHEDA explains all the SAMSKARAS (Consecratory rites) starting from GARBHADHANA. The various do’s and Don’ts about the marital union, PUMSAVANA, SIMANTA, the rules to be followed by the pregnant women, JATA KARMA, NAMA KARANA, ANNA PRASANA, KARNAVEDHA, VIDYARAMBHA, UPANAYANA, study of Vedas, etc.
The different kinds of SRADDHAS, the detailed explanation of PUJAS, rules regarding the intake of food, various taboos thereof, obsequies, DANAS are explained in the second half of the III PARICCHEDA. Thus this DHARMASINDHU is an indispensable work from the point of view of the devout followers of Hinduism.
It has academic value for the Research Scholar also who wishes to understand the background of ritualistic practices.
ISBN : 978-8170300021 ; Sri Satguru Publications ; Language : Sanskrit ; Hardboudn
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.