A ritual is a formalised, predetermined set of symbolic actions generally performed in a particular environment at a regular, recurring interval. The set of actions that comprise a ritual often include, but are not limited to, such things as recitation, singing, group processions, repetitive dance, manipulation of sacred objects, etc. The general purpose of rituals is to express some fundamental truth or meaning, evoke spiritual, numinous emotional responses from participants, and/or engage a group of people in unified action to strengthen their ...

Including:

• Ritual - Sociology
• Ritual - Psychology

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Ritual magic is the performance of a ritual for magical purposes. Practically all magical traditions include ritual magic. It may be highly complex and include nearly all of the magical system such as in hermetic or salomonic magic, or be merely a more extensive form of intuitive and informal magical practices as in shamanism or chaos magic. As opposed to religious and social rituals, magical ones are not necessarily repeated in the same or a similar way on certain occasions. However, there always are elements and symbol ...

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

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

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Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. The aim of these rituals is to remove uncleanliness, which may be real or symbolic. Most of these rituals were created long before the germ theory of disease. Many religions have a ritual cleansing of the dead before burial. Some religions have special treatment of particular body fluids such as semen and menses which are viewed as particularly unclean. There are strong similarities between the cleansing actions engaged in by obsessive compulsive dis ...

Including:

• Ritual purification - Judaism
• Ritual purification - Christianity
• Ritual purification - Islam
• Ritual purification - Hinduism
• Ritual purification - Ayyavazhi
• Ritual purification - Shinto

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Rituals in Buddhism: Buddhist Funeral Rites

Theravadins Buddhist follow the Indian custom of burning the body at death. The BuddhaÕs body was cremated and this set the example for many Buddhists, even in the West. When someone is dying in a Burmese home, monks come to comfort them. They chant verses to them, such as:

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Buddhist Rituals: Traditional Chinese Funeral Arrangements

On the passing away of the father, the eldest son becomes the head of the family. f the eldest son passes away, his second brother does not assume leadership of the family. Leadership passes to the eldest son of the eldest son or the grandson of the father. He must assume the responsibilities and duties to the ancestors on behalf of the family

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Hinduism Daily Rituals

In Hinduism, these rituals are always meant to inculcate feelings of devotion and to bring about the divine orientation of human life. As a part of his householders responsibilities, a devout Hindu is expected to perform certain rituals every day starting from morning till evening.

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The candomblé ritual (toque) has two parts: the preparation, attended only by priests and initiates, which may start a week in advance; and a festive public "mass" and banquet that starts in the late evening and ends around midnight. In the first part, initiates and aides wash and iron the costumes for the ceremony, and decorate the house with paper flags and festoons, in the colors favored by the Orixas that are to be honored on that occasion. They also prepare food for the banquet. Some domestic animals are slaughtere ...

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Candomblé, Candomblé - Nations, Candomblé - Beliefs, Candomblé - Syncretism, Candomblé - Rituals, Candomblé - Temples and priesthood, Candomblé - Books

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Main Article:Ayyavazhi religious practices In addition to the philosophical concepts and mythology, the rituals of Ayyavazhi proceed in their own way. The ritual corpus of Ayyavazhi can be said to have conducted a social discourse. The individual rituals and symbols, the unique features of worship, the ecstatic mode of religiosity, and the ritual healing - all these elements of the ritual corpus of Ayyavazhi contributed to the formation of an emancipatory ideation and a social discourse. It uplifts and treats the disenfranchise ...

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Ayyavazhi, Ayyavazhi - History, Ayyavazhi - Scriptures and holy places, Ayyavazhi - Symbolism, Ayyavazhi - Worship Centers, Ayyavazhi - Pathis, Ayyavazhi - Nizhal Thangals, Ayyavazhi - Beliefs, Ayyavazhi - Santror - The Subjects, Ayyavazhi - Dharmic Definition, Ayyavazhi - God, Ayyavazhi - Dualism in Ayyavazhi, Ayyavazhi - Pantheism and Panentheism, Ayyavazhi - Inclusivistic and Exclusivistic Ideas, Ayyavazhi - View on Gods, Ayyavazhi - View on Scriptures, Ayyavazhi - Ultimate Exclusivism, Ayyavazhi - Shamanism, Ayyavazhi - Mythology, Ayyavazhi - Rituals, Ayyavazhi - The Utopian Formula, Ayyavazhi - Identity of Ayyavazhi, Ayyavazhi - New religious phenomenon

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During the festivals, a household worships an idol of Shri Ganesha. The worship happens for 1 day in South India, but in western states of Maharashtra and Goa, the worship may last from 2 to 10 days. The main sweet-dish during the period are modaks, also known as modagams in South India and karanjis. A modak is a sort of dumpling made from rice flour with a stuffing of coconut, jaggery and some other condiments. It can be either steam-cooked or fried and the coconut can be fresh-grated or dried-grated. A karanji is si ...

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Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesh Chaturthi - Rituals, Ganesh Chaturthi - Legend, Ganesh Chaturthi - History, Ganesh Chaturthi - Rooted in Tradition, Ganesh Chaturthi - Problems

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Yum cha - Finger tapping. Also known as finger kowtow, the finger-tapping ritual of thanking someone in the traditional Chinese-style has historical significance. When you see tea-sippers tapping the table with three fingers of the same hand, it is a silent expression of gratitude to the member of the party who has re-filled their cups. The gesture recreates a tale of Imperial obeisance and can be traced to Qianlong Emperor, a Qing Dynasty emperor, who used to travel incognito. While visiting South China, he once ...

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Yum cha, Yum cha - Teahouse, Yum cha - Eating utensils, Yum cha - Teabowl, Yum cha - Chopsticks, Yum cha - Toothpick, Yum cha - Dim sum, Yum cha - Rituals, Yum cha - Finger tapping, Yum cha - Taking away the lid from the teapot before refilling, Yum cha - Reference

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Hinduism Rituals: Hindu Samskaras

Hinduism prescribes both ritual and spiritual practices for the final liberation of men. The ritual aspect is meant to make man more spiritual in the end, not vice versa. Each and every important event in the life a Hindu, who has chosen to lead a normal householder's life calls for the performance of certain rites. These rites are intended mainly to invoke the blessings of various gods and ensure success in the performance of his ordained duties. They are performed during various stages in his life for different ends. Some of the important rites of Hinduism are described here.

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Homas is an ancient form of fire rituals, stemming from the Vedic Science. A homa can help you to get well, have good relationships, find a partner, have children and it may even remove bad karma or negative aspects in a horoscope or with Vastu.

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Hinduism and Worship: Yagna - the ritual worship of Hinduism

Yagna or yajna is an outer form of worship in which offerings are made to different deities in a prescribed and systematic manner by qualified priests to supplicate them, so that they would assist the worshipper in achieving certain results in life.

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Yajnas

These are the outer forms of worship in Hinduism, reminders of its direct connection with the Vedic religion of the ancient past. During the performance of the yajnas, offerings are made to different deities in a prescribed and systematic manner by qualified priests to supplicate them, so that they would assist the worshipper in achieving certain results in life.

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Japa

Japa has become a very popular form of worship in modern day Hinduism. Especially with the rise of bhakti movement and the popularity of many yogis and babas, japa has entered the hearts and minds of many devout and spiritually inclined Hindus. Japa means continuous recitation of God's name either silently in ones mind or aloud in a group. Continuous recitation of God's name is expected to purify the mind of the devotee and fill his consciousness with divine thoughts and vibrant spiritual energy. The regular chanting is expected to create certain vibrations in the body and mind which would facilitate the spiritual transformation of ones ordinary self.

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The rituals prescribed in Dharmic religions after the death of a human being, for his or her peace and ascent to heaven are: Niravapanjali is a sacred ritual in Hinduism where after the cremation rites, the ashes are ceremonially immersed in holy water by the closest relatives, so that the soul may rise to heaven. In Hindu mythology, king Bhagiratha performed a tapasya to bring down the river Ganga upon earth, so that he could immerse the ashes of ...

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Hinduism holds that bathing in the Ganges is a particularly effective form of spiritual cleansing. ...

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Ritual purification, Ritual purification - Judaism, Ritual purification - Christianity, Ritual purification - Islam, Ritual purification - Hinduism, Ritual purification - Ayyavazhi, Ritual purification - Shinto

Read more here: » Ritual purification: Encyclopedia II - Ritual purification - Hinduism

Misogi is a Shinto practice involving purification in a waterfall or other natural running water. ...

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Ritual purification, Ritual purification - Judaism, Ritual purification - Christianity, Ritual purification - Islam, Ritual purification - Hinduism, Ritual purification - Ayyavazhi, Ritual purification - Shinto

Read more here: » Ritual purification: Encyclopedia II - Ritual purification - Shinto