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Showing posts from November 4, 2016


Sarayu River –Holiness and Greatness of Sarayu River in Hinduism

Sarayu is one of the sacred rivers in the Ramayana. Its holiness and greatness in Hinduism is associated with Bhagavan Sri Ram. The holy city of Ayodhya is located on the banks of Sarayu River. It is a tributary of Ganga River and one who takes bath in the river will be absolved of all sins. Legend has it that once Sage Vasishta blocked the course of Ganga on its way to Kailash at Manasarovar. But Ganga broke the obstacle and flowed on as Sarayu River. It is one of the holy rivers to be remembered by Hindus at dawn and dusk. Bhagavan Sri Ram and Lakshman entered the Sarayu River and disappeared from earth. Every year during Ram Navami, thousands of people take holy dip in the Sarayu River.

Yama Smriti

Yama Smriti is one of the earliest Hindu smritis (code of laws). It deals with expiation, purification and propitiatory rituals for the ancestors. Although scholars consider it as a minor smriti, Yama is enumerated in the famous Yajnavalkya Smriti as a lawgiver. So the text is considered important by many. There are several versions of Yama Smriti available. Some of these texts include in parts topics related to Dharmasashtra like legal procedures and polity. A substantial part of the Yama Smriti is devoted to prescription of expiatory atonement to various types of guilts, misdeeds and impieties, committed consciously or otherwise. A great portion of the text is also devoted to dos and don’ts relating to Shradha – ritualistic propitiation of the dead ancestors.