A Hindu (archaic Hindoo) is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, also known as Sanatan (सनातन) Dharma or Vedic Dharma. It is the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural system of Bharat (India), Nepal and the island of Bali While almost all Indians were known as Hindus to the outside world till the 20th century, many ...

Including:

• Hindu - Origins of the word Hindu
• Hindu - Who is a Hindu?
• Hindu - Hallmarks of Hindu Society
• Hindu - Ethnic and Cultural Fabric
• Hindu - Linguistics of Hinduism
• Hindu - Dietary Habits and Doctrines
• Hindu - Ceremonies Observances and Pilgrimage
• Hindu - Religion for the common Hindu
• Hindu - Hindu people
• Hindu - Hinduism
• Hindu - Other Dharmic religions
• Hindu - Literature
• Hindu - External links

Read more here: » Hindu: Encyclopedia - Hindu

pilgrimage: Tirthayatra. Journeying to a holy temple, near or far, performed by all Hindus at least once each year.

See: tirthayatra.

(See also: Pilgrimage, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Hindu - Ethnic and Cultural Fabric. See also: Indo-Aryan, Aryan Invasion Theory, Demographics of India & History of India Hinduism has one of the most gentically and ethnically diverse body of adherents in the world. Hinduism, its religious doctrines, traditions and observances are very typical and inextricably linked to the culture and demographics of India. The ancient religion finds its roots amongst peoples who migrated to the subcontinent from Central ...

See also:

Hindu, Hindu - Origins of the word Hindu, Hindu - Who is a Hindu?, Hindu - Hallmarks of Hindu Society, Hindu - Ethnic and Cultural Fabric, Hindu - Linguistics of Hinduism, Hindu - Dietary Habits and Doctrines, Hindu - Ceremonies Observances and Pilgrimage, Hindu - Religion for the common Hindu, Hindu - Hindu people, Hindu - Hinduism, Hindu - Other Dharmic religions, Hindu - Literature, Hindu - External links

Read more here: » Hindu: Encyclopedia II - Hindu - Hallmarks of Hindu Society

On his return from a pilgrimage to Amarnath, Swami Vivekananda hardly spoke to anyone. A disciple asked him what the matter was. "Oh that," said the otherwise fiery monk: "Since visiting Amarnath I feel as if Shiva is sitting on my head all 24 hours, not coming down for even a moment!"

Many of us go on pilgrimages, but not all our experiences are similar. Individual narrations differ in content and feeling. Every individual has a different experience to relate. All perceptions and reactions stem, however, from a common desire to forge a close relationship with the Divine. And it is this personal experience that makes a pilgrimage so different from a holiday or business trip.

(See also: Pilgrimage, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

A pilgrimage is a term primarily used in religion and spirituality of a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim. Secular and civic pilgrimages are also practiced, without regard for religion but rather of importance to a particular society. For example, many people throughout the world travel to the City of Wa ...

Including:

• Pilgrimage - Antiquity
• Pilgrimage - Bahá'í Faith
• Pilgrimage - Buddhism
• Pilgrimage - Christianity
• Pilgrimage - Hinduism
• Pilgrimage - Islam
• Pilgrimage - Hajj
• Pilgrimage - Ziarah
• Pilgrimage - Jainism
• Pilgrimage - Judaism

Read more here: » Pilgrimage: Encyclopedia - Pilgrimage

India has probably the most enduring pilgrimage tradition in the world. The greater the challenge of the path, the stronger its allure.

There is no typical profile of a pilgrim in India - they come from as diverse a background as the country itself, whether from the upper, middle or poorer classes.

There is an interesting passage in Frank Elias's The Gorgeous East published in 1913: "One of the strangest sights in India is that of the ascetics who make pilgrimages from one part of the country to another.

(See also: Pilgrimage in India, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Sraaddha ceremony

According to Hinduism, when a person dies, he either travels to heavenly worlds or to the ancestral worlds depending upon his previous deeds. We are told that the departed souls can be elevated to higher planes of existence and pushed further on the scale of evolution if their direct descendents on earth, especially the male progeny perform some annual rites and make sacrificial offerings to them. With such rites, not just one but the entire family of ancestors would be benefited and spiritually uplifted.

Read more here: » Sraaddha ceremony: Hinduism Rituals - Sraaddha ceremony

Durga Puja or Navaratri:

This festival is observed twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra and then in Aswayuja. It lasts for nine days in honour of the nine manifestations of Durga. During Navaratri (the word literally means "nine nights") devotees of Durga observe a fast. Brahmins are fed and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Durga Puja or Navaratri: Hindu Festivals - Durga Puja or Navaratri

Buddhist Quotes: The Ceremony of Tree-Planting

On a certain day, month and year one should observe the ceremony of tree-planting. Thus, one fulfils one’s responsibilities, serves one’s fellow-beings which not only brings happiness but benefits all.

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(See also: Buddhism Archives, Buddhist Quotes, Inspirational Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

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Vasthu Ceremony - for laying foundation

The ceremony of the laying of the foundation for a building should be performed only during the home when the Deity of the plot (VASTHU PURUSHAN) is well awake. It is guide imperative to follow the presages to be carefully notices when performing the laying of the foundation ceremony.

The worship during laying the foundation ceremony should be postponed to another auspicious day in any of the following twenty presages are noticed.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Vasthu Ceremony - for laying foundation

An initiated journey thru the mayor Hindu Spiritual rituals by Sri Swami Sivandanda.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Rituals: An overview of Hindu Rituals

Vastu Shastra: Chanku Stapanam

 It is very important to perform the ceremonies of installation of a conch-shell (Chanku Stapanam) and incantations to invoke the protection of the regents of the cardinal directions (Thikku Bhandhanam) before raising a new house or a workshop in the place where an old building has been demolished or in a site where there was no building standing for many years. Performance of these ceremonies ensures plenty, prosperity and good fortune and nullify the evil effects due to the presence of evil spirits buried underground, and renews the gravitational power of the earth. During the first twelve years after the construction of a house, the divinity present in that house will gradually diminish.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Vastu Rituals and Ceremonies - Chanku Stapanam

A Bahá'í pilgrimage currently consists of visiting the holy places in Haifa, Akká, and Bahjí at the Bahá'í World Centre in Northwest Israel. Bahá'ís do not have access to other places designated as sites for pilgrimage. Bahá'u'lláh decreed pilgrimage in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas to two places: the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad, Iraq, and the House of the Báb in Shiraz, Iran. In two separate Tablets, known as Suriy-i-Hajj, He prescribed specific rites for each of these pilgrimages (lifting the injunction regarding the sh ...

Read more here: » Bahá'í pilgrimage: Encyclopedia - Bahá'í pilgrimage

A ceremony is an activity, infused with ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. Ceremony - Celebration of life. Traditionally, a ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a personal human career, marking the significance of (for example): birth initiation puberty social adulthood graduation marriage death burial In certain circumstrances a ceremony may only be performed by a person with certain authorities. ...

Including:

• Ceremony - Celebration of life
• Ceremony - Celebration of events
• Ceremony - Process

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In general, an observer is any system which receives information from an object. Observer can have the following meanings: A person that is observing, its role in observational sciences and physical reference frames: see observation A flanuer in an organization that is sent to observe and report on the proceedings of an assembly or a meeting but that can not vote or otherwise participate. An aircrew member of a (military) aircraft responsible for searching (usually visually) for inte

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Observation is an activity of an intelligent living being, to sense and assimiliate the knowledge of a phenomenon in its framework of previous knowledge and ideas. Observation - The role of Observation in the Scientific Method. The scientific method includes the following steps: 'observe' a phenomenon, 'Hypothesize' an explanation for the phenomenon, 'predict' a logical consequence of the guess, 'test' the prediction, and 'review' for any mistakes.Including:

• Observation - The role of Observation in the Scientific Method
• Observation - Example - The Big Bang
• Observation - Observation: Hubble's redshift
• Observation - Hypothesis about the abundance of the elements
• Observation - Observation: the microwave background
• Observation - Big Bang Hypothesis now corroborated
• Observation - Current observations
• Observation - Future observations
• Observation - The role of Observation in Philosophy
• Observation - Hobbies that involve observation

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A commendation ceremony (commendatio) is a formal ceremony that evolved during the Early Medieval period to create a bond between a lord and his fighting man, called his vassal (Latin vassus). The first recorded ceremony of commendatio was in 7th century France, but the relationship of vassalage was older, and predated even the medieval formulations of a noble class. The lord's "man" ("vassal" comes from a Celtic word for "boy") might be born ...

Including:

• Commendation ceremony - Act of homage ceremony
• Commendation ceremony - Oath of fealty ceremony
• Commendation ceremony - Significance of commendation
• Commendation ceremony - Reference

Read more here: » Commendation ceremony: Encyclopedia - Commendation ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony (cha-no-yu, chadō, or sadō) is a traditional ritual influenced by Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea, or matcha (抹茶), is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting. Cha-no-yu (茶の湯, literally "hot water for tea"), usually refers to a single ceremony or ritual, while sadō or chadō (茶道, or "the way of tea") refer to the study or doctrine of tea ceremony. The pronunciation sadō is preferred by the Omotesenke tradition, while the pronunc ...

Including:

• Japanese tea ceremony - History
• Japanese tea ceremony - Equipment
• Japanese tea ceremony - The Tea Ceremony
• Japanese tea ceremony - Types of ceremony
• Japanese tea ceremony - Tea ceremony and calligraphy
• Japanese tea ceremony - Tea ceremony and flower arranging
• Japanese tea ceremony - Kaiseki ryōri
• Japanese tea ceremony - Tea ceremony and kimono
• Japanese tea ceremony - Tea ceremony and seiza
• Japanese tea ceremony - Tea ceremony and tatami
• Japanese tea ceremony - Studying tea ceremony

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This article is about the religious observances and holiday by the name of Ramadan. For information about the ninth month of the Islamic calendar called Ramadan, see Ramadan (calendar month). Islam History of Islam Oneness of God Profession of Faith Prayer • Fasting Pilgrimage • Charity Muhammad Ali • Abu Bakr Companions of Muhammad Household of Muhammad Prophets of Islam Qur'an • Hadith • Sharia Jurispruden ...

Including:

• Ramadan religious observances - Fasting during Ramadan
• Ramadan religious observances - The Holy Qur'an
• Ramadan religious observances - Prohibitions during the fast
• Ramadan religious observances - Breaking the fast
• Ramadan religious observances - Fasting in other religions
• Ramadan religious observances - Other Practices
• Ramadan religious observances - Tarawih
• Ramadan religious observances - Eid ul-Fitr

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The Hindu calendar is of two types: the solar calendar or the saura māna the lunisolar calendar or the chāndra māna Both are described in this article. Hindu calendar - Basic structure. The structure of the Hindu calendar is of course composed of days making months making years. The system of describing days is the same in both the solar and lunisolar calendars. The system of describing months and hence years is what distinguishes the solar and lunisolar ...

Including:

• Hindu calendar - Basic structure
• Hindu calendar - Day
• Hindu calendar - Tithi
• Hindu calendar - Vaasara
• Hindu calendar - Nakshatra
• Hindu calendar - Yoga
• Hindu calendar - Karana
• Hindu calendar - Month and year of the solar calendar
• Hindu calendar - Months of the lunisolar calendar
• Hindu calendar - Naming lunar months
• Hindu calendar - Religious observances in case of extra and lost months
• Hindu calendar - Year of the lunisolar calendar
• Hindu calendar - Another kind of lunisolar calendar
• Hindu calendar - Correspondence of the lunisolar calendar to the solar calendar
• Hindu calendar - Year numbering
• Hindu calendar - Year names
• Hindu calendar - Eras
• Hindu calendar - History

Read more here: » Hindu calendar: Encyclopedia - Hindu calendar