Although many rituals that were practiced in ancient times are no longer followed, some traditions are continued to this day. Iyers are initiated into rituals at the time of Birth itself. In ancient times Iyers performed rituals when the baby was being separated from mother's umbilical cord. However, this practice is not followed in modern times. At the time of birth, a horoscope is made for the child based on the position of the stars. Then Iyers undergo the naming ceremony. This affair is important as the name given during this cere ...

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Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals

RITUAL CEREMONY: A specific form of movement, a manipulation of objects or inner processes designed to produce desired effects. In religion ritual is geared toward union with the Divine. In magickal works it produces a specific state of consciousness that allows the magician to move energy toward needed goals.

(See also: RITUAL CEREMONY, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

Ceremonies, Ceremonials Originally and essentially acts of magic, designed to bring about particular and definite results, but now almost wholly ritual observances performed from habit, from unthinking reverence to misunderstood tradition, or merely to impress the devotional imagination.

The anointing of a candidate in the Mysteries was actually the completion of a process which began on higher planes and in the candidate's inner nature, not a mere symbol intended to fix his attention or to impress his mind. In two of its ecclesiastical analogs, baptism and confirmation, we find them regarded by some churches as the "outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace," and by others as an actual conveying of grace to the candidate; and the same with other Church sacraments.

In real ceremonial magic this is fully recognized, and success depends upon the exact fulfillment of the necessary conditions; similarly in white magic, but the knowledge and proficiency required for the fulfillment of the requisite conditions is apparently beyond the attainments of the great multitude of people today. It comes only in higher degrees of chelaship and is carefully guarded from profanation. For ceremonial magic, whether white or black, means the evocation of various forces of nature, stronger or weaker depending upon their nature, demanding for their control a resolute will, an inflexible mind, and an immaculately pure heart. Ceremonies performed in ignorance may be as barren of results as a static electric machine worked in a fog.

There is a thread-soul of quasi-intuitive understanding running through the traditions of human history which impels people to keep up, however ignorantly, forms and ceremonies through the ages, often when their real significance is lost, like seeds preserved in an ark to await the time when the flood waters shall recede.

(See also: Ceremonies, Ceremonials, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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

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

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

Read more here: » Ritual: Encyclopedia - Ritual

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

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

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

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

Read more here: » Buddhist Rituals: Traditional Chinese Funeral Arrangements

Buddhism: Buddhist Marriage Ceremony

Although wedding ceremonies have always been regarded as secular affairs in Buddhist countries, the parties concerned have nevertheless obtained the blessing from monks at the local temple after the civil registration formalities have been completed.

In view of the traditional importance that the marriage ceremony has in the West, moreover, local, and especially isolated Buddhists without access to a temple or a monk might well adopt the following service that could be performed by relatives and friends of the bride and groom:

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhist Marriage Ceremony

The rites that pertain to the stages of life of man are called Samskaras. The Samskaras are purificatory rites which sanctify the life of the Hindu. They give a spiritual touch to the important events in the life of the individual from conception to cremation. They mark the important stages of a mans life. Just as the outline of a picture is lighted up slowly with the filling in of many colours, so also is Brahmanya with scriptural Samskaras. There are the Samskaras of childhood, of boyhood, of manhood and of old age and death.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Rituals: The Ten Scriptural Samskaras

Rituals in Buddhism: Buddhist Funeral Rites

Theravadins Buddhist follow the Indian custom of burning the body at death. The Buddha�s 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:

Read more here: » Rituals in Buddhism: Buddhist Funeral Rites

Site Testing

In order to identity an ideal building site, a square pit of one square built (1 cubit x 1 cubit) should be dug out at the centre of the building site, meditating mentally upon the Goddess Earth and praying for plenty of wealth and grains at this site. This is to be performed at an auspicious hour, when the lunar day (thithi) lunar asterism (Natchatram), the astrological dicisious of tone and the rising of the zodiac sign (lagnam) above the horizon are favourably placed.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Site Testing in Vastu

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

Read more here: » Ceremony: Encyclopedia - Ceremony

Ceremonial dance is a major category or classification of dance forms or dance styles, where the purpose is ceremonial or ritualistic. This compares to other major dance categories based on purpose: - Competitive dance - Erotic dance - Participation dance - Performance dance - Social dance Celebration dance Festival dance Dance in ancient cultures Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Classical Indian dances Ritual dance, Magic/ ...

Including:

• Ceremonial dance - External link

Read more here: » Ceremonial dance: Encyclopedia - Ceremonial dance

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

Read more here: » Japanese tea ceremony: Encyclopedia - Japanese tea ceremony

Ceremonial magic is a branch of magick. Ceremonial magic, often abbreviated as CM, is a tradition inspired largely by Hermeticism and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. It includes, but is not limited to, Goetic magick, Enochian Magic, Tarot, Astrology, Grimoire magick, hermetic qabalah and Thelemic ritual. Ceremonial magic is commonly considered the most complex form of magick. It utilizes elaborate magic theory, draws from a large body of literature and always uses ritual. Practitioners of CM often organize themselves in magical societies such as the Builders of the Adytum, the various for ...

Read more here: » Ceremonial magic: Encyclopedia - Ceremonial magic

The Cherokee Moons Ceremonies were the ancient seasonal round of ceremonies practiced during ancient times by the Ah-ni-yv-wi-ya or Cherokee People in the ancient culture. Although a modern calendar year is comprised of 12 months, there are actually 13 cycles or phases of the moon each year. The seasonal round of ceremonies was based on 13 moons, and was considered a necessary spiritual element for growth and fostered social interaction among ...

Including:

• Cherokee Moons Ceremonies - Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni Seasonal Moon Ceremonies
• Cherokee Moons Ceremonies - Modern Cherokee Moons Ah-ni-yv-wi-ya Sv-no-yi-hi
• Cherokee Moons Ceremonies - Customary and Traditional Events Associated With The Moons

Read more here: » Cherokee Moons Ceremonies: Encyclopedia - Cherokee Moons Ceremonies