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Showing posts from March 7, 2012


Importance of Garuda Purana – Rituals dedicated to Dead

Garuda Purana is named after Garuda , the vehicle of Vishnu. Many people today believe it is bad to keep Garuda Puran at home. Garuda Purana has two parts; the second part which deals with knowledge regarding journey of the dead and the rituals that have to be performed by relatives to help the dead persons to have a smooth journey. This Purana was composed by Veda Vyasa as one of the eighteen puranas and it is believed that Hindu God Vishnu himself revealed it to Garuda. Earlier in traditional Hindu homes a priest was invited to recite Garuda Purana after the death of a person so that relatives are given the required knowledge to perform Shradh and other rituals towards the dead. Sadly, this is no longer followed in majority of Hindu homes. Today many people believe it is bad to keep the book Garuda Purana in their homes. The book is also not read by many fearing death will happen in the family. Some communities only read it during the ten days after the death of a pers

Vedic Athirathram in Pakazhiyam System in 2012 in Kerala after 112 years

Athirathram is a Vedic yajna and is one of the world’s oldest surviving rituals. An Athirathram in Pakazhiyam Sambradayam or System will be held from March 23 for 12 days at Mattathur Kunnu Kaimukku Mana at Kodakara in Thrissur in Kerala. The Athirathram is being performed for the welfare of all living beings. The Yajamana of the yajna is Kaimukku Vaidikan Raman Somajipad. This yagam based on Asvalayana Bodhayana Samyukta Pakazhiyam system and is taking place after 112 years. The Yajna is being conducted by the Tretagni Foundation. Athirathram of a different sampradayam was held in April 2011 in Kerala and this was highly successful. What is Athirathram? Vedic Yajna (Yajgya or sacrifice or ritual) is performed for the prosperity of human race through peaceful co-existence with nature by energizing the various forces in nature – especially sun. Agni, fire, that represents Sun, the Prathyaksha Brahman or Visible God, in Sanatana Dharma, is worshipped during the Yajna. This