Festivals & Rituals - Hindu Festivals (Origin, Sentiments and Rituals)Back of The Book Hindu Festivals (origin, sentiments & rituals) is an excellent, well-researched documentation of our ancestral samskars and heritage at its best. The inclusion of 529 colour photographs, 75 ...Festivals & Rituals - Hindu Festivals (Origin, Sentiments and Rituals)Back of The Book Hindu Festivals (origin, sentiments & rituals) is an excellent, well-researched documentation of our ancestral samskars and heritage at its best. The inclusion of 529 colour photographs, 75 paintings and 30 maps have successfully captured the true spirit of festivals, with the central emphasis on devotion to Paramatma and the deities, rather than just mundane enjoyment.
There are also practical ideas in the appendix about how children can celebrate festivals. This sets the book apart from the usual "Fairs and Festivals of India" type seen on bookshelves. For both young NRIs and those in India, this book is a must.
About the Author The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a global socio-spiritual organization committed to the moral and spiritual uplift of mankind. It was established in 1907 CE by Brahmanswarup Shastriji Maharaj in consonance with the Vedic teachings propagated by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830). The Sanstha's global network of 12,000 Satsang centers, 55,000 volunteers and over 850 sadhus implement a variety of philanthropic and spiritual activities.
BAPS is an NGO in consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the united Nations. Its world renowned cultural and spiritual complexes like Akshardham in Gandhinagar and New Delhi, and the Swaminayran Mandirs in London, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Toronto and Nairobi, are some of its epoch-making contributions to society. Under the inspiration and guidance of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS has earned an endearing and unique place in the hearts of millions throughout the world.
An eminent and saintly sadhu of India, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was born on 7 December 1921, in the village of Chansad, Gujarat. He is the fifth successor in the illustrious spiritual tradition of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the embodiment f the universal Hindu ideals. In his presence doubts dissolve, confusions clear, hurts heal and the mind finds peace.
His selfless loves and morality equally soothes and moralises children youths and the aged; regardless of creed or status. Out of his compassion for humanity, he has visited over 17,000 villages, towns and cities, sanctified over 250,000 homes, and read and replied to over 700,000 letters. He has ushered a cultural, moral and spiritual renaissance in India and abroad by establishing over 850 mandirs.
His striking humility, simplicity, spirituality, and above all, his profound experience and realization of God, is the essence of his success and divine luster. Foreword This book, Hindu Festivals (origin, sentiments and rituals) by Sadhu Mukundcharandas should be read and regarded as a sequel to his three previous books: Vachanamurt Handbook (Insights into Bhagwan Swmainarayan's Teachings), Hindu Rites and Ritals (Sentiments, Sacraments and symbols) and Rishis, Mystics and Heroes of India , Vol. 1.
The aim of all these four books is to augment His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj's great efforts to rekindle Santan Dharma's asmita-prid -in Hindus by re-instating values forgotten over time and by migration. Though the author is a sadhu of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstah, his target readers are NRIs as well as young Hindus in India. His books are worthy of being read by all followers of Sanatan Dharma' whether Shaivite, Shakta, Vaishnav, Ganapatya or Nijari.
This is because his books encompass not only philosophy and basic concepts of Sanatan Dharma, but also the ideals of individual, family, social and religious life. These books are like an encyclopedia of Indian culture, religious thought and life, canon and spiritual history of India, combined. Besides Hindus, these books will probe useful for all foreign scholars interested in Indian culture and religion, or all other aspects of Indology which they are striving to study and understand.
All these four are erudite reference books. Just as no Hindu at home or abroad can be expected to be totally aware of all Hindu religious bellies, philosophy and rituals, the same is true for foreign scholars. They cannot be expected to have a total and perfect perspective and unbiased knowledge of Snatan Dharma.
Generally their information is obtained from articles and books written only be foreign scholars, from their viewpoints and the way they have understood texts such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Upanishads, Yog, Vedant, etc. Their sources are books based on all these texts. These can be prone to errors from ignoranc