In ancient times, the clan names represented to the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni the balance between the spiritual forces that shaped and guided the human spirit on its journey and development through life in preparation for entry into the spirit world. The Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni teach that life is made up of four distinct sections and paths, 1) development in the womb 2) childhood 3) marriage and parenting 4) elders (grandmothers and grandfathers) and the perpetuation of the culture through the ancient ceremonies. Each section or quadrant of life was represented ...

See also:

Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Background on Cherokee Clans in Ancient History, Cherokee Clans - The Seven Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Spiritual Significance of the Clans in Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni Rituals, Cherokee Clans - Ancient Spiritual Symbolism of the Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Clan Customs of the Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Cherokee Marriage Customs Between the Clans, Cherokee Clans - Clan Marriage Ceremonies of the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni, Cherokee Clans - Clan Married Life, Cherokee Clans - Clan Voting and Banishment in Ancient Times

Read more here: » Cherokee Clans: Encyclopedia II - Cherokee Clans - Spiritual Significance of the Clans in Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni Rituals

Ritual Magic: Magic is real. It exists. It works. It is the most potent and beautiful force in the universe. Magic is the flowing lifeblood of the Soul of the World. It is the essence that separates the living from the dead. It is the divine gift that renders humankind immortal. Magic moves below the surface of things. It can give you inner peace and self-confidence, personal magnetism, the power to attain your goals in life, and most important of all, a true understanding of yourself and your place in the universe.

(See also: Ritual Magic, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

ritual

Ceremony to restore balance with nature and the world and bring back lost harmony and sacredness

(See also: Ritual, Body Mind and Soul)

The institution of Haj in Islam is quite extraordinary. Haj is the fifth among the five pillars of Islam. The other four are Kalimah, Namaz, Zakat and Roza. The word Haj means 'resolve' and in religious terms it refers to the resolve to visit a holy place. Believers from all over congregate at the holy city of Mecca and perform the rituals prescribed by Islam.

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

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.

Read more here: » Hinduism Rituals: Hindu Samskaras

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

There are great truths behind the ancient mythology of Hinduism. You cannot ignore a thing simply because it has a garb of mythology. Do not argue. Shut up your mouth. Keep your intellect at a respectable distance when you study mythology. Intellect is a hindrance. It will delude you. Give up arrogance and vanity. Cultivate love for imagery. Sit like a child and open your heart freely. You will comprehend the great truths revealed by mythology. You will penetrate into the hearts of the Rishis and sages who wrote the mythology. You will really enjoy mythology now..

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Mythology: Hinduism Mythology and Symbols

Outward symbols are necessary and beneficial. When viewed from the right angle of vision, you will find that they play a very important part in your material as well as spiritual life. Though they may look very simple and unimportant, they are very scientific and effective.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Symbols: Symbols in Hinduism

Festive bonhomie apart, many myths, legends and spiritual insights are woven around the customs and rituals associated with Diwali.

Celebrations commence a day before amavas on Naraka Chaturdasi , which marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and Satyabhama. According to the puranas , demon king Naraka had acquired immense power through penance and had imprisoned the gods. He had also held captive 16,000 celestial princesses.

(See also: Diwali, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The pot is perhaps the most ancient of vessels. It is also the most universal. It is an intrinsic part of several rituals in many societies. It is difficult to imagine any Hindu religious ceremony without the holy kalash. Our gods partnered with demons to churn the ocean to obtain the pot of nectar. In ancient Europe, hydrio-taphia (urn-burial) was common. In Gond society, a married couple desirous of divorce carry together a mud-pot and drop it to 'break' their wedlock.

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

With the Christmas-New Year festive season round the corner, we are about to spin into another frenetic round of gift-giving. The act of exchanging gifts, however, has undergone a huge metamorphosis, from a personal heartfelt offering to a commercial ritual, true to today's market mantra, which goads one to 'shop till you drop'.

'To give' may not always be the same as 'to gift', although we often take one to be a synonym of the other. In giving is included the emotion of caring for, and nurturing. Whether it is tending a love relationship like a garden or bringing up children, some of the most precious moments of our lives are ones in which we give of ourselves. When we share of our deepest selves and take care of another using our love and energy.

(See also: Christmas, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

There is an interesting legend connected with Mahashivratri, the day Shiva got married a second time to Shakti, his divine consort.

Once Shiva and Sati or Shakti were returning from the ashram of sage Agastya, after listening to Ram Katha or the story of Ram.

On the way when Shiva saw Rama roaming the forest - in search of Sita who was kidnapped by Ravana - he bowed his head in reverence. A surprised Sati inquired of Shiva why he was paying obeisance to a mere mortal.

(See also: Mahashivratri, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

If we meet no Gods, its because we harbour none, said Emerson. For us, God is not a remote, abstract figure; He is a living, loving Presence. The nirguna or formless God of Shankara’s Advaita is difficult to relate to - but give Him a sweet form and through saguna upasana or worship He can become your very own because of the wonderful ease it creates in human divine encounter.

The predominant religious motif of practising Hinduism is this archanam andpadasevanam - the worship and adoration of a God made visible to our eyes in beautiful images, in homes and in temples. It is the ornamental centrepiece of the Vaishnav bhakti tradition set in motion by acharyas like Ramanuja, Madhava and Vallabha.

(See also: Hindu Worship, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

In the stampede at the Nashik Kumbh Mela, many pilgrims were injured and several died. Some others drowned in the Godavari while taking the holy dip and a few were victims of the bomb blasts in Mumbai where they had made a brief stopover.

Pilgrims are aware of the various hardships they have to endure, of the risks involved - landslides, stampedes, floods, terrorist attacks, fires - but they carry on, undeterred, motivated by the desire to acquire punya or spiritual merit.

(See also: Kumbh Mela, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

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.

Read more here: » Hinduism Rituals: Hinduism and the performance of Rituals

The Markandaya Purana and the Vamana Purana chronicle how Mahishasura, the wicked buffalo-king, a demon possessing monstrous power and deadly weapons of destruction, waged a war against the gods and defeated them.

Mahishasura dislodged Indra and occupied the throne. Indra fled to save himself. This shook the celestial world and so enraged Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva that they began to emit fire from their eyes. From the fusion of these beams of fire, carrying the radiant divine energy, a female figure, Goddess Durga, was born.

(See also: Durga, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Theism is the Basis of High-end Hinduism

Since we believe in the Paramatma or Supreme energy that is beginningless and endless, it is clear that Hinduism in its purest form is theistic. Theism is hindusim basic premise.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Theism is the Basis of High-end Hinduism

God as Mother: Celebration of the Mother Principle

Durga Puja is to Bengal what Ganesh Chaturthi is to Maharashtra - an occasion to celebrate, worship, bond together, to get festive, to exhibit one's artistic abilities, and all in the name of the Divine Mother.

Relating to God as Mother forges a personalised relationship, strengthening the bond between bhakta and bhagvan, as between a child and mother. Celebrated as Navratri in other parts of India, these nine nights are devoted to the worship of the Divine Mother - some do it through dancing the Garba or Dandiya Raas as in Gujarat, and some do it through austerities and fasting.

Read more here: » God as Mother: Celebration of the Mother Principle

Hinduism and Marriage: Hindu Marriages

According to Hinduism, marriage between two souls is a very sacred affair that stretches beyond one life time and may continue up to at least seven lives. A husband and wife chose to come together more due to spiritual reasons than sexual, though they may not be mentally aware of the reasons for their decision to come together.

Read more here: » Hinduism and Marriage: Hindu Marriages

Shivaratri

THIS FALLS on the 13th (or 14th) day of the dark half of Phalgun (February-March). The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva. Shiva was married to Parvati on this day.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Shivaratri: Hindu Rituals and Ceremonies - Shivaratri