Pooja and traditional Hindu rituals Independently of the devotion that each person professes to the gods of the family temple through the daily pooja and offerings of flowers, fruit and incense, there are particular rituals that can only be performed by priests and brahmins, which normally consist of fire ceremonies, celebrated on special occasions such as the beginning of a season, the full moon, the opening of a house or workplace, the birth of a child, etc…
Traditional Hindu rites that are essential all throughout life are those called SODASHA SAMSKARA, consisting of 16 vitally important ceremonies:
GARBHADANA SAMSKARA: the blessing of a couple trying to conceive a baby.
PUMSAVANA SAMSKARA: seeking the physical health of a fetus.
SIMANTONOYANA SAMSKARA: to avoid negative influences during pregnancy and activate the intellectual capacity of the unborn baby.
JATAKARMA SAMSKARA : celebrating the new life of the baby before the world.
NAMAKARANA SAMSKARA: the child receives his or her name in the presence of the family.
NISHKRAMANA SAMSKARA: the baby is presented to society, outside of the home.
ANNAPRASHANA SAMMSKARA: at 6 months of age, the celebration of the first eating of solid food (normally rice).
KARNAVEDHA SAMSKARA: piercing the baby’s ears to allow the wearing of earrings.
CHUDAKARANA SAMSKARA: during the first year of the life of the child, their head is shaved. This is a social ritual that includes recitation of mantras.
VIDYARAMBHA SAMSKARA: the child begins their studies and they are put before intellectual wisdom.
UPANAYANA SAMSKARA: known as the ‘second birth’ ritual where a sacred cord is placed on the left shoulder of child brahmins.
SAMAVARTANA SAMSKARA: a student of the Vedas, counselled by a master, gets ready to start a family.
VIVAHA SAMSKARA: the wedding ceremony, a celebration for society and families in India.
PANCHAMAHAYAJNA SAMSKARA: daily prayers and blessings for recently-married couples.
VANAPRASTA SAMSKARA: the blessing of mental and spiritual maturity.
ANTYESHTI SAMSKARA: funerary rites, before and after cremation.
These services are also provided, with prior appointment:
Fire ceremonies to bring harmony and protection of the house, work center or premises of business.
Personal purification through repetition of mantras or japa
