(14.3.16) Glossary of Hindu culture and customs

The terms used in Hindu customs and culture 

Here under is given the list of the terms which are used time and again while observing the Hindu customs, rituals and traditions. They are also necessary to understand Hinduism and Hindu culture.
Beginning with 'A'
> Aarati
> Ashataang Arghya

> Ashta Mahaadaan

> Ashta Lakshmi

Beginning with 'B'
> Brahaman / Brahamin
Beginning with 'C'
> Charanamrit
Beginning with 'D'

> Dash Aushadhi

> Dash Daan

Beginning with 'K;
> Kalash
> Kaaltray
Beginning with 'M'
> Madhurtray
> Madhupark
Beginning with 'N'
> Nav Ratna
Beginning with 'P'
> Panchdev
> Panchopachaar
> Panch Nadee (नदी )
> Panch Pallava
> Panch Gandh
> Panch Mahayagya
> Panchaamrit
> Panch Ratna
> Panchang
> Panch Tatva
Beginning with 'S'
> Shat Karm
> Sapt Rishi
> Sapt Gautra
> Sapta Dhaanya
> Sapt Dhaatu
> Solah Sanskaar
> Shodashopachaar
Beginning with 'T'
Teen Rin
Beginning with 'V'

> Ved

> Varn

Beginning with 'Y'
> Yagyopaveet

(14.3.15) Folk gods of Rajasthan / Folk deities of Rajasthan

Rajastahan is a state where people honour the saints and the heroes as deities or folk gods. The common things about these folk deities are as follows -
> It is believed that these saints and the heroes possess supernatural power.
> Some of these heroes sacrificed their lives for the protection of weak people, animals and trees.
> Some of these heroes belonged to the royal class or privileged class. They did the the task of upliftment of the common people.
The list of the folk deities of Rajasthan is as follows -
> Bhuwal Mata
> Devji / Devnarayan
> Eloji
> Gogaji
> Guru Jambeshwar ji
> Khetala ji
> Mallinathji
> Mehaji
> Teja ji

(14.3.14) Holy trees and plants in Hinduism

Sacred trees and plants in India

Nature has given us many important gifts. Trees and plants are also among them.Trees can be called the green gold because they have always played an important role and have remained as the part and parcel of the economy of the world.
In India, particularly for the Hindu community,trees have religious value. People have been worshiping trees since ages. Trees and plants play a vital role in the Hindu customs, traditions and rituals.
There is a long list of the trees and plants which are considered as sacred and have been given religious importance in the Hinduism. Here under is a list of some of the trees and plants which have more importance -
Ashok
Bel
Bargad
Chandan
Khejari
Kusha
Kadamb
Kamal
Naariyal
Mango
Peepal

(14.3.12) Hindu Symbols/Religious Hindu Symbols

The following is the list of Hindu symbols which have religious as well as spiritual importance -
1. Lotus.
2. Om.
3. Swastik.
4. Tilak.
5. Trishul ( Trident ).
6. Shankh ( Conch ).
7. Ling.
8. Rudraksh.
9. Deepak.
10. Shri.
11. Cow.
12. Veena.
13. Peacock Feathers.
14. Bhashma ( Holy ash ).
15. Kamadal.
16. Dhwaja. ( A flag ).
17. Dharm chakra.
18. Chandra.
19. Sury.
20. Mala.
Each Hindu symbol has a different meaning and is used at different occasions.

(14.3.11) Descent of Ganga

How Ganga came down to the Earth

Once the king named Sagar Performed the Ashvamedh Yagyo. ( In this Yagya a horse is allowed to roam at its will and which ever the territory it covers becomes the property of the king who performs this yagya. The person who stops the horse has to fight against the army of the king who performs this yagya.)
The king allowed ( Let loose ) a horse to roam at its will. One day Indra, the king of gods, stole the horse and tied it near Kapil Muni where he was sitting in deep Tapasya. The king Sagar's 60000 sons went in search of the horse. They found it tied near Kpil Muni. They mistook Kapil Muni for the thief and accused him of stealing the thief. Kapil Muni got angry at this false accusation and burned all the 60000 sons to ashes.
Then the king Sagar sent his another son Anshuman to search for his 60000 brothers, while searching for then he went to the Ashram of Kapil Muni and came to know what had happed to them. So he requesed Kapil Muni to tell him the way or means through which his brother could get salvation. At the sage Kapil Muni was pleased with Anushuman and told him that the waters of the Ganga could release the souls of all the sixty thousand sons of Sagar. At his advice Anshuman did Tapasya but could not get success in bringing the Ganga down to the earth from heaven.
At last the king Bhagirath, the son of Dilip, did Tapasya and got success in bringing down Ganga to the earth. Bhagirath led the way and the river Ganga followed. At last it reached the place where the ashes of sixty thousand princes lay. The water of the Ganga touched the ashes and as a result, their souls were liberated.
Other Posts you will like to read -
(10) Festivals and Fairs
(10.1.5) Makar Sankranti
(10.2.1) Ganga Sagar Mela

(14.3.10) Kusha Grass

Kusha - Sacred Grass ( A kind of grass)

What is Kusha 

Kusha is a kind of grass which is considered sacred and purifying in Hinduism. It is found near the banks of the rivers, ponds,valleys etc.The Pandits or Purohits or Hindu priests collect it on the Amavasya of Bhadrapad month and use it for the different rites and rituals.

Importance or uses of Kusha grass -

* Kusha, the sacred grass, has the power to purify the things which are used in religious activities.

* As Kusha is the purifying grass so the Brahmans and the Hindu priests keep it in their houses so that they may use it while performing rituals.

* During the solar eclipse or lunar eclipse, Kusha grass is put on the eatables with the belief that it keeps away the harmful effects of the eclipse, if any and keep the eatables safe from any kind of contamination.  

* While chanting any Mantra or performing any religious activities, people sit on the mat made of Kusha grass.

* Before starting any religious activity, people wear the ring made of Kusha grass on their right ring finger.

Other Posts you will like to read - 

(10.3.54) Kushotpatani Amavasya

(14.3.8) Om / Aum (Importance of Om in Hinduism)

Om / Aum, a sacred symbol (Why is Om/Aum Important)

(1) In the Hinduism Om is the seed of alphabets / words / syllables. Om/Aum  has been given a great importance and is considered most sacred symbol.

(2) The pronunciation of 'Om'  is considered to be pious. So many Hindu mantras begin with 'Om' and end with 'Om'.

(3) 'Om' is the seed of alphabets and words. All the words emerge from it and then all of them get merged into it.

(4) Om is the divine sound.

(5) Om is the supreme source of all kinds of energies.

(6) The Upnishadas say that everything can be grasped by uttering 'Om' and that everything in this world has emerged out of 'Om' and everything will merge back into 'Om'.

(7) Om/Aum is the part and parcel of the Hindu culture. The Pujaris in the temples begin the worshipping with the pronunciation of Om.The spiritual lessons and the vedic prayers also begin with Om 

(8) Om/Aum represents the three main gods of the Hindus i.e. Bhramha,the creator of universe,Vishnu,who is known as operator of universe, and Mahesh (Lord Shiva) who is known as destroyer of universe.

(9) For meditation 'Om' is considered to be the supreme symbol. When a person meditates on the supreme symbol 'Om', all mystries of the universe are revealed to him.

(10) In the Bhagwat Geeta it is said that the person who departs from this world and leaves his body uttering the symbol 'Om', reaches the supreme goal.

(11) Bhawat Geeta, Chapter 8,shloka 12 and 13-

Having closed all the doors of the senses , and firmly holding the mind in the cavity of the heart , and then fixing the life- breath in the head, and thus remaining steadfast in Yogic concentration on God, he who leaves the body and departs uttering the indestructible Bhramha,OM, and dwelling on Me and My absolute aspect reaches the supreme goal.

(12) Bhagwat Geeta, in the chapter 10,sholka 25, Lord Krishna says-

Among the great seers, I am Bhrgu ; among words , I am the sacred syllable Om. Among offerings, I am the offering of Japa ;and among the immovables , the Himalaya.

(13) Bhagwat Geeta Chapter - 17, Shlok 23,24 -

It is said that  sacrifice , charity,and austerity begin with the utterance of divine name Om -

OM,TAT,and SAT- this has been declared as the threefold appellation of the Absolute, who is Truth, Consciousness and Bliss solidified. By that were the Brahmans and the Vedas as well as sacrifices were created at the cosmic dawn.

Therefore, acts of sacrifice,charity and austerity as enjoined by sacred precepts are always commends by noble souls given to the recitation of Vedic chants with utterance of the divine name Om.

(14.3.6) Charanamrit / Why is Charanamrit taken

Importance of Charanamrit 

What is Charanamrit :- 

Charanamrt is the holy water with which the feet of the idol  of god are washed.According to the Hinduism this Charanamrit is considered as very pious and holy. 

Why is Charanamrit taken :-

It is believed that Charanamrit has the power to cure the diseases of the persons who take it with full faith. It keeps away the untimely death. It removes the sins of the person. It is a divine medicine. 

The importance of Charanamrit :-

In the Ramcharitmanas the importance of Charanamrit is mentioned like this - 

पद पखारि जलु पान करि आपु सहित परिवार। 

पितर पारु करि प्रभुहि पुनि मुदित गयउ लेइ पार।। 

(अयोध्या काण्ड दोहा १०१ )

Meaning :- The Kevat (ferryman) washed the feet of Shri Ram Chandra Ji and drank the water ( the Charanamrit) with the members of his family. By drinking the Charanamrit , he transported the souls of his deceased fore fathers across the ocean of metempsychosis and then gladly took (the Lord) Shri Ram across the river.

In another scripture the following Shlok is also found which shows the importance of Charanamrit -

अकाल मृत्यु हरणं सर्व व्याधि विनाशनम्। 

विष्णोः पादोदकं पीत्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ।।

 Meaning :-The person who takes the Charanamrit of Lord Vishnu does not have the fear of untimely death, this Charanamrit makes him free from the diseases ( and as a result he enjoys the physical as well as the mental health.) By taking the Charanamrit the person does not have to take rebirth and attains liberation. Thus it is clear why people take Charanamri and what its importance is.  

(14.3.5) Eight Siddhis / Ashta Siddhi / Aath Siddhiyan

 Ashta Siddhi / Yougik Siddhiyan

Siddhi means perfection or accomplishment. Yogik Siddhi is a supernatural power which can be acquired through Yog Sadhana and meditation. The Asht Siddhi (Eight fold accomplishment)are as follows :- 

( Animaa Mahimaa Chaiva Garimaa Laghimaa Tathaa.
Praptih Praakaamyameeshitvvam vashitvam Chaashtsiddhayah.)  
अणिमा महिमा चैव गरिमा लघिमा तथा। 

प्राप्तिः प्राकाम्यमीशित्वं वशित्वं चाष्टसिद्धयः।।

(अमरकोश , रामाश्रमी व्याख्या १/१/ ३४/ (१७-१८) 

(1) Anima (अणिमा) :- Anima consists in making one's body as minute as atom. ( As Shri Hanuman ji did while entering the portals of Lanka.)

(2) Garima (गरिमा) :- Garima consists in increasing the weight of one's body to abnormal limits.( As Lord Krishna did during the encounter of Arjun with Karn When He is said to have brought chariot along with the horses to the level of the earth under pressure of His body as a device to dodge the deadly dart hurled by Karn against Arjun, for whom He was acting as a charioteer.) 

(3) Mahima (महिमा) :- Mahima consists in swelling the size of one's body at will.(As Lord Vaman did while trying to divest the demon king Bali of his kingdom.)

(4) Laghima (लघिमा) :- Laghima consists in making the body exceedingly light.

(5) Prapti (प्राप्ति ) :- Prapti consists in securing the object of one's desire . (As the sage Bhardwaja did at the time entertaining Bharat who was going to bring his elder brother bask to Ayodhya.)

(6) Prakamya (प्राकाम्य) :- Prakamya means infallibility of desire. 

(7) Ishitva (ईशित्व) :- Ishitva consists in acquiring the power of creating the universe , similar to that possessed by god.

(8) Vashitva (वशित्व) :- Vashitiva consists in winning over anyone through one's magnetic influence.

These are the eight fold accomplishment. Yogis possessing these powers, are difficult to find at the present day. Persons having acquired minor accomplishments such as infallibility of speech , which can be acquired by the practice of absolute truthfulness, can be found even now.  

(14.3.2) Twenty four (24) Avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu

Twenty four incarnations of Lord Vishnu

According to Shri Madbhagwat Puran the incarnations of of Lord Vishnu are mentioned below :- 

(1) Sanakadi Four Brahaman  Kumars - The first incarnation of Lord  Vishnu was as four Brahamn Kumars i.e. Sanak, Sanandan, Sanaatan and Sanatkumar. The observed strict  celibacy.

(2) Varaha - In the form of Boar Lord Vishnu lifted the earth and brought it out of the ocean.

(3) Narad - Lord Vishnu took the form of a sage Narad. 
(4) Nar -Narayan -  Lord Vishnu took the forms of two sages. Their names were Nar and Narayan.  (5) Kapil -  Lord Vishnu took the form of a sage Kapil. 
(6) Dattatreya -
(7) Yagya 
(8) Rishabhdev
(9) Prithu
(10) Matsya
(11) Kachhap (Kurma)
(12) Dhanvantari
(13) Mohini
(14) Narsingh
(15) Vaman
(16) Parashuram
(17) Vyas
(18) Ram  
(19) Balram
(20) Krishna
(21) Buddha
(22) Kalki
The remaining two are Hans and Hayagriva  
( Source - Shreemadbhagwat-Sudha-Sagar Page  30)