Dharma Sindhu, an 18th century work on rituals,
was written by Kashinath Anant Padhye, also known as Baba Padhye. He was born
in Govali (Ratnagiri) and later moved to Pandharpur where he remained till his
death.
Dharmasindhu (in Sanskrit) explains rituals and religious
functions. The work is similar to Nirnaya Sindhu, Purushartha Chintamani,
Kalamadhava, Kalaivecana, Smrtiyarthasara, etc.
The decisions given in Dharma Sindhu are accepted from Kashi
to Pandharpur. Baba’s brother who carried this work to Kashi, presented it for
the examination of learned pundits (scholars) there. The pundits accepted its
authenticity.
Dharma Sindhu is divided into three parts. In the first two
parts it describes the procedure for performing various religious functions in
a year. In the third part, it deals with the sixteen sacraments and daily
functions like agnihotra, arha, griharambha, griha pravesh, prayana, garbhadhana
(conception), ahnik (daily rituals), deva pratishta (installation of God, i.e.
his image), santyadika (pacification rites), nitya naimittika Karma (routine and
obligatory rituals), etc., in the purvardha (first half).
In the uttarardh (subsequent part), it lays down the
details of what should be done and what should be avoided in Kali Yuga. It
covers topics like jivapitrika nirnaya (observations about living parents),
Shraddha Paddhati (method of performing obsequies), sutakadi nirnaya (decision
about purity), antyeshti (funeral rites), samskara vidhi (the right way of
performing sacraments), sanyasa (renunciation) and so on are covered.
Prayaschitta (expiation) and sarvadana vidhi (rites of charity of all types) are
explained and in introduction to all Dharmashastras is given in brief.
It is observed that people in the modern era do not follow
achara (prescribed behavior) properly. Emphasis is laid on the performance of
sixteen samskaras (sacraments) for all round-development of man. After dealing
with kala (time) or conditions in a generally way, Dharma Sindhu dilates upon
kalanirnaya (judgment about time).