Contents

Chapter 1: The science underlying the rituals performed in the Family

• Birthday
  • 1. Spiritual meaning
  • 2. History and importance of a birthday celebration
    • 2.1 Birthday of an embodied soul in the ‘Satyayug’
    • 2.2 Birthday of an individual in the Treta and Dvaparyugs
  • 3. Importance of celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar
  • 4. Method of birthday celebration
  • 5. Science behind the ritual of birthday celebration
    • 5.1 Three rites in birthday celebration and the science behind them
    • 5.2 Wearing new clothes after the bath with oil massage is like wearing an armour of chaitanya
  • 6. Spiritual experiences during the celebration of a birthday
  • 7. Acts forbidden on a birthday and the science behind it
  • 8. Subtle analysis of a birthday celebrated in western style
  • 9. A saint’s birthday
  • 10. The birthday celebration of children, contemporaries, the aged and saints
  
  
• Ritual of waving a lit lamp (Aukshan)
  • 1. Articles required for the ritual of waving lit lamp and their arrangement
  • 2. Method of waving a lit lamp
  • 3. The science behind the actions during ‘Aukshan’
    • 3.1 Why is it that akshatas should be placed on the vermillion applied on the forehead of the individual?
    • 3.2 Why is it that while doing Aukshan waving is done by the ring and beetlenut taken in hand?
    • 3.3 Why is the ring after waving around the face, touched to the platter (used for the ritual)?
    • 3.4 What is the science underlying using an ornament instead of a coin in the ritual of waving lit lamp?
    • 3.5 Various methods of the ritual of waving lit lamp
    • 3.6 Why are the unbroken rice grains (Akshatas) kept below the lit lamp platter when it is put down after the ritual is over?
    • 3.7 Why is the lit lamp platter moved only once while performing the ritual for Saints?
  • 4. Reason behind the various methods of the ritual of moving lit lamp and the effect on the embodied soul
  • 5. A spiritual experience of the ritual of waving lit lamp
  
  
• Ritual of gifting
  • 1. Meaning of a gift
  • 2. What should be gifted and what should be the bhav (spiritual emotion) while gifting?
  • 3. Why are turmeric and vermillion applied to a gift?
  • 4. What is the best gift and who can offer it?
  
  
• The Pacification ritual for the elderly
  • 1. The purpose and the day for the ritual for shanti
  • 2. Types of shanti as per the age (of the person), the main Deities of the ritual and substances used in offerings
  • 3. The importance of ‘Sahastrachandra darshan’
  • 4. Subtle observations of some steps in the ritual for shanti
    • 4.1 Vaishnaviii Shaantii
    • 4.2 Ugrarath (shashthi) Shaantii
    • 4.3 Sahastrachandra darshan
    • 4.4 Raudriii Shaantii
  
  
• Puja of Sri Satyanarayan
  • 1. Importance of performing Sri Satyanarayan puja prior to a function

Chapter 2: Science behind the social rituals

• Inauguration (Udghaatan)
  • 1. Definition and importance
  • 2. Rituals in inaugurating
  • 3. Why the western tradition of inaugurating by cutting a ribbon is inappropriate?
  
  
• Lighting a Lamp
  • 1. The implied meaning and importance of lighting a lamp
    • 1.1 Activation of the energy of resolve of God
    • 1.2 Creation of a protective sheath around the venue
  • 2. Science behind lighting a lamp and breaking a coconut when inaugurating a programme on stage
  • 3. Science behind lighting a lamp on the stage
    • 3.1 Should unbroken rice grains (akshatas) be kept under the lamp before lighting it ?
    • 3.2 Why is it more appropriate to use oil instead of ghee (clarified butter) in the lamp ?
    • 3.3 Why is a lamp lit with another small lamp (kaypanji) and not with a candle ?
  • 4. Why is it more appropriate for a saint or a sattvik person to light a lamp on the stage?
  
  
• Felicitation
  • 1. Spiritual meaning and importance
  • 2. Who should be felicitated?
  • 3. Who should do the felicitation?
  • 4. Honouring a worthy person
  • 5. Honouring a saint
  • 6. What should be avoided during felicitation?
  • 7. Comparison of felicitation of a deserving individual, a saint and idol of a deity
  
  
• Release of a holy text or book using spiritual principles (granthaprakaashan)
  • 1. Meaning of the word ‘Prakaashan’
  • 2. Shloks (Holy verses)to be recited during the function of book / holy text release
  • 3. Steps in the function of a holy text/book release
  • 4. Why should one not release a book by tying it with a ribbon and then untying it ?
  • 5. Subtle analysis done by Mrs. Anjali Gadgil at the release of the holy text ‘Sadhana’, of the Sanatan Sanstha
  
  
• Why is it necessary to chant Sanskrut shloks during programmes related to various topics and which one?
  
• Organisation of a stage programme of one or two sessions
  
• Condolence meeting