Basic rituals in Islam
Reading the Koran. In the liturgical ritual, much attention is paid to the reading of the Koran. great attention. The presence of the Koran in the house, regardless of whether those in that house know how to read it or not (only very few Muslims know how to read the Koran), is considered very commendable and is understood as keeping a sacred relic. It is common among Muslims to swear on the Koran. In Muslim countries, all significant public events, holidays, and celebrations open with the reading of the Koran on radio and television. The Koran is also read before the daily radio broadcasts.
Namaz(prayer). A Muslim is required to pray (perform namaz) five times a day - this is one of the main duties of believers in Islam. The first - morning prayer at dawn (salaat assubh) is performed in the period from dawn to sunrise and consists of two so-called rak-ats, i.e. worship, prostration; the second - midday (salaat asazuhr) - of four rak-ats; the third - in the afternoon before sunset (salaat al-asr), called evening prayer - of four rak-ats; the fourth - at sunset (salaat al-maghrib) and the fifth - at the beginning of the night (salaat al-isha consist of three rak-ats. In addition to these obligatory prayers The most devout and zealous Muslims also perform additional prayers with a certain number of bending of the back and touching the forehead to the floor, and in the month of Ramadan a special prayer has been introduced - tarawih-na-maz, performed after a day of fasting. You can perform namaz anywhere, but it must be preceded by ritual ablution. The best place for prayer - a mosque, the imam leads prayer there. Midday prayer on Friday must be performed in a mosque.
Circumcision of the foreskin. It is one of the rituals prescribed by the Sunnah - the Muslim sacred tradition. Done in infancy. There is a widespread and traditional belief among Muslims that circumcision is beneficial and even necessary for men. Some consider it a hygienically advisable procedure.
Alms. The ritual of giving alms (to the poor, to the mosque) is carried out in accordance with the instructions of the Koran: “You will not achieve piety until you make sacrifices from what you love.” Muslims believe that giving alms frees you from sin and helps you achieve heavenly bliss. Hajj (pilgrimage). Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina (the places where Muhammad's activities took place) is not an essential obligation, but every adult Muslim should strive to perform the Hajj at least once in his life. The holiness and goodness of Hajj are limitless. You are allowed to send other people in your place. Those who have completed the pilgrimage enjoy special honor and respect in Muslim society; they often wear special clothes, such as a green turban. IN AND. Garadzha “Religious Studies,” 2nd ed., additional. - M.: Aspect Press, 1995. 115-120 pages,
Basic rituals in Judaism
Prayer. It is the most common ritual in Judaism. In the minds of Jewish believers, the word of prayer and chant reach heaven and influence the decisions of the inhabitants of heaven. During morning prayer(except Saturdays and holidays) the believer is required to wear on his forehead and left hand tefillin (phylacteries) - two small cubic leather boxes with straps. The boxes contain quotes from the Torah written on parchment. The believer is also obliged to pray “betsibur” three times a day, i.e. perform divine services in the presence of a prayer dozen, a minyan (community quorum) and, in addition, accompany any action (eating, taking care of natural needs, etc.) with praise to Yahweh. The believer is ordered to thank the Almighty daily for the fact that God did not create him as a pagan, a woman and an Amhaarian.
Mezuzah and tzitzit. Judaism instructs the believer to mandatory hanging a mezuzah and wearing tzitzit. Mezuzah - a piece of parchment on which verses from Deuteronomy are written; the rolled scroll is placed in a wooden or metal case and attached to the door frame. Tzitzit - tassels made of woolen threads attached to the edges of the arbakanfot, i.e. to a quadrangular piece of material worn by religious Jews under their outer clothing.
Kapores. The magical rite of kapores is performed on the night before the day of judgment and consists of a man twirling a rooster three times over his head (a woman a chicken), saying a special prayer three times. The bird is then slaughtered and the meat eaten on the night of the end of Judgment Day.
Lulav. Ancient rite Lulav is performed during prayer on the days of the autumn Jewish holiday of tabernacles (Sukkot). The worshiper must hold a lulav in one hand, consisting of a palm branch tied with three myrtle and two willow branches, and in the other hand an esrog, a special type of lemon, and shake the air with them, which supposedly serves as a magical means to summon wind and rain Tashlich. On the day of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), believers gather near the river, read passages from the Old Testament book of Micah and sing religious hymns. While reading prayers, believers empty their pockets and throw crumbs of bread into the water, believing that they are thereby freed from sins. Kosher n clubs. According to Jewish belief, poverty is divided into permitted (kosher) and unlawful (trefna). You can eat the meat of ruminants and poultry, slaughtered according to the rules of she-khita (ritual slaughter). It is forbidden to consume meat and dairy foods at the same time. Pork is a taboo food.
Circumcision. The fulfillment of this rite in Judaism is given special significance: the fulfillment of this great covenant of Yahweh is considered the guarantee of the religious exclusivity of the Jewish people. Ablution. The believer is prescribed on the eve of Saturday and other religious holidays to wash in a mikveh - a specially equipped pool with rain or spring water, preceding each prayer by washing his hands. O.F. Lobazova Religious Studies., M.: 2002 - 97-110 pages
Basic rituals in Christianity
Sacraments in Christianity, cult actions are called, with the help of which “under visibly the invisible grace of God is communicated to believers.” Orthodoxy and Catholicism recognize all seven sacraments; Lutherans - baptism and communion; Anglican Church - baptism, communion, marriage.
Baptism- a sacrament that symbolizes the acceptance of a person into the bosom of the Christian Church. The ritual of baptism consists of either immersing newborns in a font (in Orthodoxy) or sprinkling them with water (in Catholicism). In Protestant churches, as a rule, adults are baptized.
Confirmation- a sacrament closely related to baptism. Its goal is to endow man with divine grace. The ritual of anointing consists of smearing the forehead, eyes, ears and other parts of the face and body of the believer with aromatic oil - myrrh.
Communion(eucharist) - a sacrament in which believers are treated to bread and wine, symbolizing the “body and blood” of Christ. “Communion of the mysteries of Christ” is designed to spiritually change a person.
Repentance(confession) - the disclosure by believers of their sins to the priest (the person confessing must sincerely repent of these sins) and receiving from him “absolution of sins” in the name of Khrip. At the same time, the Church guarantees the secret of confession.
Priesthood- a sacrament through which the elevation to the rank of clergy is accomplished.
Marriage- a sacrament performed at the conclusion of a church (Castle. Grace unites spouses in the image of the union of Christ with the Church.
Blessing of Unction(unction) is a sacrament performed on the sick and consists of saying certain prayers, which are accompanied by anointing the forehead, cheeks, lips, chest and hands with consecrated oil. Faith and repentance are required from a person. Under this condition, his sins are forgiven. http://www.way-s.ru/ezoterika/35/6.html (05.12.12)
Main rituals in Hinduism
The most common type of religious ceremony is puja or worship. Almost every Hindu home contains sacred images or statues of beloved gods, before which prayers are read, hymns are sung and offerings are made. In poor dwellings, the puja is performed modestly. At dawn, the mother of the family reads prayers and rings a bell in front of the market colored pictures of gods hung in the corner of her room. In the homes of rich people, puja is performed with offerings of delicious dishes and flowers, lighting of incense sticks in a special room, which serves as a family temple, where the sacred fire never goes out. In such houses special occasions The family priest, purohita, is invited to the puja. Religious services this kind is most common among followers of the cult of bhakti. The main modern temple ritual, as well as at home, is puja, which replaced the Vedic-Brahmanistic yajna. They try to do it correctly, that is, in compliance with all the subtleties prescribed by special texts. There are many such texts: agamas, which describe and explain the temple ritual; brief reference books of temple rituals, something like missals; astrology reference books indicating exact dates for rituals; collections of magical formulas and spells. The most important source of knowledge of ritual was and remains oral tradition. Temple puja usually starts early in the morning. The priest carefully prepares for it, cleanses himself with ritual ablution and prayer. Then he turns to the local deity - the guardian of the city or village, under whose magical jurisdiction the temple is located, and asks him for permission to enter this temple. Having opened the doors of the temple, “God’s house,” the priest enters the god’s bedroom and wakes him up, singing hymns of praise. In former times, musicians and temple dancers were used to awaken the gods. Wanting to attract the attention of the deity, they beat a gong, blow conch shells, and ring a bell. Central role in the ritual belongs to a procedure called abhishek - sprinkling. The statue or other image of the deity is poured with water or milk, smeared with ghee or sandalwood paste, and sprinkled with gold coins or precious stones. The purpose of such a ritual is either to express endless and selfless devotion to the deity, or to receive mercy from him.
Tilak
Followers of various Hindu cults often demonstrate their affiliation with them through colored marks on the forehead and sometimes on the body. For example, Shaivites draw three white horizontal stripes on their foreheads, Vaishnavas - a white Latin V, dissected by a vertical red line.
Upanayana
An ancient Indian rite performed on a boy from the Brahmin caste in the eighth year from conception or birth, on a boy from the Kshatriya caste on the 11th, and on a boy from the Vaishya caste on the 12th. The deadlines for initiation were the 16th, 22nd and 24th years. Performing the Upanayana ritual was mandatory for all Aryans (the three highest castes). The uninitiated was excommunicated, and all communication with him was prohibited. The Upanayana ritual was recognized as a kind of second, spiritual birth and was accompanied by the naming of the initiate a new name. It marked the boy's entry into the first of four stages of life obligatory for every Aryan - the stage of a Brahmana student (brahmacharin). Only after passing this stage could an Aryan establish his own household by getting married. The brahmins invited to perform the ritual, among whom was the boy’s future teacher, performed a sacrifice; the boy was dressed in new clothes, they girded him with a special belt, twisted from three threads of sacred grass (for a kshatriya - from a bowstring, for a vaishya - from sheep's wool) and gave him a staff, which he had to constantly wear. The boy's future teacher, entrusting him to various deities, gives him a brief instruction: "You are a brahmacharin: drink water, do (sacred) work, do not sleep during the day, refrain from verbosity, add wood to the fire." After this, the student put wood on the fire and went to collect alms for himself and his teacher. After a three-day fast, and sometimes on the same day, the first lesson was taught to the student. Falling to the teacher’s knees, the student asked to teach him the sacred verse of Savitri (a verse in honor of the god Savitar). The teacher and student sat opposite each other, near the fire; the first one recited first in parts, then the whole sacred stanza, and the boy repeated after him. Remains of the Upanayana ritual, detailed description which we find in the ancient Indian rules of household ritual (grihya sutras), have been preserved in some places in India to this day.
For Shraddha There are established canons: 4 pandits participate in its implementation. One of them performs Puja for the rest of the Pandits, who are the personification of various Natural forces. Before the Ceremony, three Pandits fast all day on the eve and on the day of the Ceremony, before starting they take a bath and put on new clothes. They are the personification of three different Divine powers. The first Pandit personifies Pitra - our ancestors: grandfathers, great-grandfathers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. During Shraddha, he sits facing south, because south is the direction of Yama - the God of Death, the spirit of departed ancestors comes from this direction. The second Pandit represents Vishwa Devas - they are considered the bodyguards of departed souls. Vishwa Devas are always accompanied by the departed souls of Pitra to protect them. An offering should also be made for Vishwa Devas. The third Pandit is the personification of Vishnu, he is the main deity during Shraddha. Next, these energies are revived by pronouncing Mantras and performing certain rituals. This is followed by a treat. During the meal, Pandits are offered two or three varieties of sweets, and several other dishes cooked in oil, two or three varieties of vegetables, as well as rice and other dishes. After the meal, the Pandits are offered new clothes. After this, the chief Pandit prepares the Pinda. For preparation, rice, curdled milk, and special black seeds are used, which personify the energy of Saturn. Balls are made from all this, 3-6 pieces. It is believed that such food, the preparation of which is accompanied by the chanting of Mantras, is filled with strength and energy. Afterwards it is offered to the souls of the ancestors.
Usually, performing the Shraddha Ceremony is the responsibility of the eldest member of the family, but any family member can also perform this ceremony. After the ceremony, the rice balls are left for the crows to eat, placing them in such a way that no other animals can reach them. Crows are believed to represent the souls of the dead. This is an ancient tradition that has been observed for thousands of years. All these ceremonies are described in the Vedas. Another type of ceremony is Pitru Puja. Two Pandits are invited to perform this type of ceremony. During the ceremony, the chief Pandit recites Mantras, performs rituals, and then offers clothes and food items such as rice, dal, vegetables, salt, etc. Pandits are offered uncooked food because they can only eat food that they prepare themselves or that their family members prepare. During this ceremony, the one who performs it should remember the ancestors, wish them well, say that an offering is being made to them, and in return he will receive the blessing of his ancestors. M. Eliade, I. Culiano “Dictionary of religious rites and beliefs.” M.: “Rudomino”, St. Petersburg: “University Book”, 1997, 15, 35, 45, 70 pages
Everything about religion and faith - “prayer as a religious ritual” with detailed descriptions and photographs.
Religious rites and rituals - what are they? Perhaps some people believe that only those who are closely associated with religion encounter such phenomena. However, in reality, such rituals have long been intertwined with the everyday life of ordinary people. What can we say about a believer, for whom religious customs and rituals are an integral part of existence.
And yet, despite this, many interesting questions remain in the shadows. For example, even the meaning of the word “religious rite” raises a number of confusions. After all, how do you understand which rituals should be classified as them and which ones should not? Or what is the difference between Orthodox sacraments and Catholic ones? And finally, how long ago was the first religious ceremony held? So, let's look at everything in order.
The meaning of the word “religious rite”
As always, you need to start from the root of the problem, namely exact value of this expression. So, a religious ritual is a certain action based on a person’s mystical idea of the surrounding reality.
That is, the main task of such a ritual is to strengthen the connection of the believer with his higher principle, or God. It does not matter at all whether such an action is carried out individually or is a collective event.
What is a religious ceremony?
Yet it is not enough just to know the meaning of this word. To fully understand its essence, it is necessary to look at everything from a special angle, relying on clear examples and arguments. That's why let's look at what a religious ceremony actually is.
To begin with, let's take as an example finger baptism, which is common among all Christians. It would seem that there is nothing mystical, just ordinary manipulation of the hand in a given order, which is used during prayer. And yet it is a religious rite. Do you know why?
Because there are two here important points. Firstly, an established ritual that has remained unchanged for all Christians for many centuries. Secondly, it is based on the belief that such an action can shed God's grace on a person.
Based on this, we can draw the following conclusion: any custom that combines these two points is a religious rite.
The first mystical sacraments
No one knows exactly when man began to believe that the world was controlled higher intelligence. After all, for the first time this happened in those days when our distant ancestors did not yet know how to write. The only evidence of their intelligent lifestyle is the drawings and incisions on the rocks. However, even this meager information is enough to understand what a religious rite was among ancient people.
In those distant times, a person’s life directly depended on how favorable Mother Nature was to him. Just imagine how majestic it was for people who did not have the slightest idea about the laws of physics and chemistry. Consequently, it is not surprising that over the years they began to attribute to her the presence of her own will and intelligence.
Therefore, to answer the question: “What is a religious rite among ancient people?” it will be quite simple. Almost all of their rituals were aimed at appeasing the spirits of nature so that they would grant them their protection.
This belief in the power of sacred rites has had a marked influence throughout human history. After all, it was thanks to the ancient sacraments that the first priests appeared - people who communicated with otherworldly forces.
Rituals of the Slavs
Before the arrival of Christianity in Rus', our ancestors were pagans. They believed in the existence of many gods, forming Slavic pantheon. So, the warriors worshiped Perun, the peasants - Lada, and creative people- Veles.
Initially, rituals were invented ordinary people, in order to somehow appease the beloved deity. A little later, the priests themselves began to select the most favorable rituals and insist that this was the will of the higher mind.
It got to the point that not a single holiday or significant event was complete without a religious sacrament. And the more often and systematically they were repeated, the stronger they sank into people’s consciousness. Over the years they have become an integral part Everyday life Slavs and were taken for granted by the people.
For example, peasants always made a sacrifice to Lada before starting sowing work. After all, if this is not done, then the goddess will not bestow her grace on the crops, and then the harvest will be bad. The same applied to other aspects of the life of the Slavs: the birth of children, weddings, war and death. Each occasion had its own religious ritual, aimed at strengthening the relationship between deity and man.
What about other countries and continents?
The most curious thing is that such a worldview was inherent in almost all nations and peoples. Thus, the Greeks believed in the gods of Olympus, the Egyptians believed in the powerful god Osiris and other equally powerful creatures. And the indigenous people of Africa had so many different deities that it is not possible to count them.
And they all practiced religious ceremonies. For example, the Greeks made rich offerings to their gods in temples, and on holidays they organized festivities with masquerade. The Egyptians built pyramids so that their pharaohs would live there even after death. And some African tribes ate human hearts, hoping in this way to gain the strength and courage of a defeated enemy.
Religious rituals in the modern world
Despite the fact that now has come the age of popularization scientific theories and atheistic views, religious rituals have not gone away. Moreover, some of them are so deeply ingrained in people’s minds that they have become the norm. Let's look at the most popular rituals of two giant religions - Christianity and Islam.
So, let's start with the Orthodox baptism of children. This religious rite is considered one of the most ancient in our history. According to his laws, small children are washed with holy water in order to cleanse them of original sin. In addition, Christians believe that during baptism God gives a person a guardian angel.
Another ancient religious ritual that has survived to this day is the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. They believe that every true believer should make such a trip at least once in his life in order to show his devotion to Allah.
Devotion bordering on fanaticism
However, not all rituals and ceremonies are harmless. Unfortunately, sometimes faith develops into fanaticism, and then the first victims appear. In particular, some religious rituals require blood, sometimes even human. And a fanatical believer is ready to present such a gift. After all, this is God's will, and human life compared to her - just dust.
At the same time, the bloody trail from religious rituals stretches from the very depths of history, then disappearing, then appearing again. What are the Christian Crusades or the Muslim holy wars against the infidels? Not to mention the fact that the ancient Aztecs sacrificed hundreds, or even thousands, of people just to satisfy the mystical appetite of the Sun God.
In this regard, it should be understood that religious rituals can be carried out both for good and vice versa. At the same time, it is not God who creates evil, but people, because it is they who ultimately determine the essence and order of the ritual.
Religious ceremonies.
The main rituals that are characteristic of the most widespread world religions.
Basic rituals in Islam
Rituals of believers in Islam.
Reading the Quran
Reading the Koran. In the liturgical ritual, great attention is paid to the reading of the Koran. The presence of the Koran in the house, regardless of whether those in that house know how to read it or not (only very few Muslims know how to read the Koran), is considered very commendable and is understood as keeping a sacred relic. It is common among Muslims to swear on the Koran. In Muslim countries, all significant public events, holidays, and celebrations open with the reading of the Koran on radio and television. The Koran is also read before the daily radio broadcasts.
Namaz (prayer). A Muslim is required to pray (perform namaz) five times a day - this is one of the main duties of believers in Islam. The first - morning prayer at dawn (salaat assubh) is performed in the period from dawn to sunrise and consists of two so-called rak-ats, i.e. worship, prostration; the second - midday (salaat asazuhr) - of four rak-ats; the third - in the afternoon before sunset (salaat al-asr), called evening prayer - of four rak-ats; the fourth - at sunset (salat al-maghrib) and the fifth - at the beginning of the night (salat al-isha consist of three rak-ats. In addition to these obligatory prayers, the most devout and zealous Muslims also perform additional prayers with a certain number of back bends and touches forehead of the floor, and in the month of Ramadan a special prayer has been introduced - tarawih-na-maz, performed after a day of fasting. You can perform namaz anywhere, but it must be preceded by a ritual ablution. The best place for prayer is a mosque, where the imam leads the prayer. Midday prayer on Friday must be performed in a mosque.
Circumcision of the foreskin
Circumcision of the foreskin. It is one of the rituals prescribed by the Sunnah - the Muslim sacred tradition. Done in infancy. There is a widespread and traditional belief among Muslims that circumcision is beneficial and even necessary for men. Some consider it a hygienically advisable procedure.
Alms. The ritual of giving alms (to the poor, to the mosque) is carried out in accordance with the instructions of the Koran: “You will not achieve piety until you make sacrifices from what you love.” Muslims believe that giving alms frees you from sin and helps you achieve heavenly bliss. Hajj (pilgrimage). Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina (the places where Muhammad's activities took place) is not an essential obligation, but every adult Muslim should strive to perform the Hajj at least once in his life. The holiness and goodness of Hajj are limitless. You are allowed to send other people in your place. Those who have completed the pilgrimage enjoy special honor and respect in Muslim society; they often wear special clothes, such as a green turban.
Basic rituals in Judaism
Religious rites of the Jews.
Prayer. It is the most common ritual in Judaism. In the minds of Jewish believers, the word of prayer and chant reach heaven and influence the decisions of the inhabitants of heaven. During morning prayer (except Saturdays and holidays), the believer is required to wear tefillin (phylacteries) - two small cubic leather boxes with straps - on his forehead and left hand. The boxes contain quotes from the Torah written on parchment. The believer is also obliged to pray “betsibur” three times a day, i.e. perform divine services in the presence of a prayer dozen, a minyan (community quorum) and, in addition, accompany any action (eating, taking care of natural needs, etc.) with praise to Yahweh. The believer is ordered to thank the Almighty daily for the fact that God did not create him as a pagan, a woman and an Amhaarian.
Mezuzah and tzitzit
Mezuzah and tzitzit. Judaism requires believers to hang a mezuzah and wear tzitzit. Mezuzah is a piece of parchment on which verses from Deuteronomy are written; the rolled scroll is placed in a wooden or metal case and attached to the door frame. Tzitzit are tassels made of woolen threads attached to the edges of the arbakanfot, i.e. to a quadrangular piece of material worn by religious Jews under their outer clothing.
Kapores. The magical rite of kapores is performed on the night before the day of judgment and consists of a man twirling a rooster three times over his head (a woman a chicken), saying a special prayer three times. The bird is then slaughtered and the meat eaten on the night of the end of Judgment Day.
Lulav. The ancient rite of lulav is performed during prayer on the days of the autumn Jewish holiday of tabernacles (Sukkot). The worshiper must hold a lulav in one hand, consisting of a palm branch tied with three myrtle and two willow branches, and in the other an esrog, a special kind of lemon, and shake the air with them, which supposedly serves as a magical means to summon wind and rain Tashlich. On the day of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), believers gather near the river, read passages from the Old Testament book of Micah and sing religious hymns. While reading prayers, believers empty their pockets and throw crumbs of bread into the water, believing that they are thereby freed from sins. Kosher n clubs. According to Jewish belief, poverty is divided into permitted (kosher) and unlawful (trefna). You can eat the meat of ruminants and poultry, slaughtered according to the rules of she-khita (ritual slaughter). It is forbidden to consume meat and dairy foods at the same time. Pork is a taboo food.
Circumcision. The fulfillment of this rite in Judaism is given special significance: the fulfillment of this great covenant of Yahweh is considered the guarantee of the religious exclusivity of the Jewish people. Ablution. On the eve of Shabbat and other religious holidays, the believer is required to perform ablution in a mikveh - a specially equipped pool with rain or spring water, preceding each prayer by washing his hands.
Basic rituals in Christianity
Sacraments in Christianity are cultic actions through which “the invisible grace of God is communicated to believers in a visible way.” Orthodoxy and Catholicism recognize all seven sacraments; Lutherans - baptism and communion; Anglican Church - baptism, communion, marriage.
Baptism is a sacrament that symbolizes a person’s acceptance into the fold of the Christian Church. The ritual of baptism consists of either immersing newborns in a font (in Orthodoxy) or sprinkling them with water (in Catholicism). In Protestant churches, as a rule, adults are baptized.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a sacrament closely related to baptism. Its goal is to endow man with divine grace. The ritual of anointing consists of smearing the forehead, eyes, ears and other parts of the face and body of the believer with aromatic oil - myrrh.
Communion
Communion (Eucharist) is a sacrament in which believers are treated to bread and wine, symbolizing the “body and blood” of Christ. “Communion of the mysteries of Christ” is designed to spiritually change a person.
Repentance (confession) is the disclosure by believers of their sins to the priest (the person confessing must sincerely repent of these sins) and receiving from him “absolution of sins” in the name of Khripa. At the same time, the Church guarantees the secret of confession.
Priesthood
Priesthood is a sacrament through which a priest is elevated to the rank of priest.
Marriage is a sacrament performed at the conclusion of a church (Castle. Grace unites spouses in the image of the union of Christ with the Church.
Blessing of Unction
Blessing of oil (unction) is a sacrament performed on the sick and consists of saying certain prayers, which are accompanied by anointing the forehead, cheeks, lips, chest and hands with consecrated oil. Faith and repentance are required from a person. Under this condition, his sins are forgiven.
Main rituals in Hinduism
Hinduism has a significant influence on life in modern India. Through complex system religious ritual, rituals, behavioral and everyday regulations, traditional food prohibitions, it permeates the entire life of an orthodox Hindu. Religion and the rituals associated with it are still active factors today that have a profound influence on the thinking, behavior and value orientations of the majority of the Hindu population of the country, despite the gradually developing process of erosion of religion caused by changes in the economic and social structure modern India.
A set of rules of behavior obligatory for every Hindu is contained in ancient Indian treatises - dharma-shastras.
No orthodox Hindu can neglect to perform the most important rites prescribed by the laws of his caste. It should be noted that dharma, i.e. The rites and ritual complex of the upper and middle castes differ in many ways from the dharma of the lower castes (Sudras) and untouchables (Harijans), since the latter retained more features of the tribal cults of the pre-Aryan era. Rituals also vary different areas countries. With the right life path members of the higher “varnas” (castes) had to go through four stages: 1) in adolescence and youth, learn and observe chastity (brahmacharya); 2) get married and lead a socially useful life (grihastasrama); 3) after the appearance of grandchildren, settle in the forest for spiritual purification and curbing passions (vanaprastha); 4) renounce worldly vanity and lead the life of a wandering ascetic for the salvation of the soul (sannyas). The fourth stage was prescribed mainly for the Brahmins.
The most common type of religious ceremony is puja or worship. Almost every Hindu home contains sacred images or statues of beloved gods, before which prayers are read, hymns are sung and offerings are made. In poor dwellings, the puja is performed modestly. At dawn, the mother of the family reads prayers and rings a bell in front of the market colored pictures of gods hung in the corner of her room. In the homes of rich people, puja is performed with offerings of delicious dishes and flowers, lighting of incense sticks in a special room, which serves as a family temple, where the sacred fire never goes out. In such houses, on special occasions, the family priest, purohita, is invited to puja. Religious services of this kind are most common among followers of the cult of bhakti.
The main modern temple ritual, as well as at home, is puja, which replaced the Vedic-Brahmanistic yajna. They try to do it correctly, that is, in compliance with all the subtleties prescribed by special texts. There are many such texts: agamas, which describe and explain the temple ritual; brief reference books of temple rituals, something like missals; astrology reference books indicating the exact dates for rituals; collections of magical formulas and spells. The most important source of knowledge of ritual was and remains oral tradition.
Temple puja usually starts early in the morning. The priest carefully prepares for it, cleanses himself with ritual ablution and prayer. Then he turns to the local deity - the guardian of the city or village, under whose magical jurisdiction the temple is located, and asks him for permission to enter this temple. Having opened the doors of the temple, “God’s house,” the priest enters the god’s bedroom and wakes him up, singing hymns of praise. In former times, musicians and temple dancers were used to awaken the gods. Wanting to attract the attention of the deity, they beat a gong, blow conch shells, and ring a bell. The central role in the ritual belongs to a procedure called abhishek - sprinkling. The statue or other image of the deity is poured with water or milk, smeared with ghee or sandalwood paste, and sprinkled with gold coins or precious stones. The purpose of such a ritual is either to express endless and selfless devotion to the deity, or to receive mercy from him.
Followers of various Hindu cults often demonstrate their affiliation with them through colored marks on the forehead and sometimes on the body. For example, Shaivites draw three white horizontal stripes on their foreheads, Vaishnavas - a white Latin V, dissected by a vertical red line.
An ancient Indian rite performed on a boy from the Brahmin caste in the eighth year from conception or birth, on a boy from the Kshatriya caste on the 11th, and on a boy from the Vaishya caste on the 12th. The deadlines for initiation were the 16th, 22nd and 24th years. Performing the Upanayana ritual was mandatory for all Aryans (the three highest castes). The uninitiated was excommunicated, and all communication with him was prohibited. The Upanayana ritual was recognized as a kind of second, spiritual birth and was accompanied by the naming of the initiate a new name. It marked the boy's entry into the first of four stages of life obligatory for every Aryan - the stage of a Brahmana student (brahmacharin). Only after passing this stage could an Aryan establish his own household by getting married.
The brahmins invited to perform the ritual, among whom was the boy’s future teacher, performed a sacrifice; the boy was dressed in new clothes, girded with a special belt made of three threads of sacred grass (for a kshatriya - from a bow string, for a vaishya - from sheep's wool) and given him a staff, which he had to constantly wear.
The boy's future teacher, entrusting him to various deities, gives him a brief instruction: “You are a brahmacharin: drink water, do (sacred) work, do not sleep during the day, refrain from verbosity, add wood to the fire.” After this, the student put wood on the fire and went to collect alms for himself and his teacher. After a three-day fast, and sometimes on the same day, the first lesson was taught to the student. Falling to the teacher’s knees, the student asked to teach him the sacred verse of Savitri (a verse in honor of the god Savitar). The teacher and student sat opposite each other, near the fire; the first one recited first in parts, then the whole sacred stanza, and the boy repeated after him. The remains of the Upanayana ritual, a detailed description of which we find in the ancient Indian rules of home ritual (grihya sutras), have been preserved in some places in India to this day.
There are established canons for Shraddha: 4 pandits participate in its implementation. One of them performs Puja for the rest of the Pandits, who are the personification of various Natural forces. Before the Ceremony, three Pandits observe fast all day on the eve and on the day of the Ceremony, before the ceremony they take a bath and put on new clothes. They are the personification of three different Divine powers. The first Pandit personifies Pitra - our ancestors: grandfathers, great-grandfathers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. During Shraddha, he sits facing south, because south is the direction of Yama - the God of Death, the spirit of departed ancestors comes from this direction. The second Pandit represents Vishwa Devas - they are considered the bodyguards of departed souls. Vishwa Devas are always accompanied by the departed souls of Pitra to protect them. An offering should also be made for Vishwa Devas. The third Pandit is the personification of Vishnu, he is the main deity during Shraddha. Next, these energies are revived by pronouncing Mantras and performing certain rituals.
This is followed by a treat. During the meal, Pandits are offered two or three varieties of sweets, and several other dishes cooked in oil, two or three varieties of vegetables, as well as rice and other dishes. After the meal, the Pandits are offered new clothes. After this, the chief Pandit prepares the Pinda.
For preparation, rice, curdled milk, and special black seeds are used, which personify the energy of Saturn. Balls are made from all this, 3-6 pieces. It is believed that such food, the preparation of which is accompanied by the chanting of Mantras, is filled with strength and energy. Afterwards it is offered to the souls of the ancestors.
Usually, performing the Shraddha Ceremony is the responsibility of the eldest member of the family, but any family member can also perform this ceremony. After the ceremony, the rice balls are left for the crows to eat, placing them in such a way that no other animals can reach them. Crows are believed to represent the souls of the dead.
This is an ancient tradition that has been observed for thousands of years. All these ceremonies are described in the Vedas. Another type of ceremony is Pitru Puja. Two Pandits are invited to perform this type of ceremony. During the ceremony, the chief Pandit recites Mantras, performs rituals, and then offers clothes and food items such as rice, dal, vegetables, salt, etc. Pandits are offered uncooked food because they can only eat food that they prepare themselves or that their family members prepare.
During this ceremony, the one performing the ceremony should remember the ancestors, wish them well, say that an offering is being made to them, and in return he will receive the blessings of his ancestors. If the person performing the ceremony clearly knows the names of all his ancestors in three generations, then Shraddha is performed. Six rice balls are prepared for them, for father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. If he does not know the exact names of his ancestors, then Pitru puja is performed.
Orthodox high-caste Hindus periodically repeat the shraddha ritual from generation to generation in memory of their ancestors.
RELIGIOUS RITES - symbolic. collective actions that embody relats, ideas and ideas and are aimed at supernaturals. illusory objects. O. r. represent the most important component of the cult of religions. Belief in, which lies at the basis of all religiosity, also presupposes belief in the existence of a two-way relationship between man and supernatural beings. objects. O. r. act as ways of realizing these relationships, ways of influencing religions. man to the supernatural. The oldest form of OR is, apparently, magic, which served as an illusory means of practical influence of primitive things. people on the world. In modern world. religions O. r. form a complex system of ritual actions, in the center of which is a collective ritual performed by believers in a church or other special event. place. O. r. are important means ideological and emotional-psychological. influence on believers, they form a system of familiar religions. images and ideas in their minds and cult stereotypes in their behavior. O. r. are distinguished by great conservatism. Their repeated repetition turns into a habit and becomes a need for the believer. Before plural churches today vr. There is a problem of adaptation of the archaic in its origin OR. to modern times.
Atheistic Dictionary. - M.: Politizdat. Under general ed. M. P. Novikova. 1986 .
See what “RELIGIOUS RITES” are in other dictionaries:
RITES AND MYTHS- The connection between rite (ritual) and myth has long been noted by researchers. The ritual is, as it were, a dramatization of the myth, and the myth acts as an explanation or justification for the ritual being performed, its interpretation. This “myth-rite” connection is especially clearly manifested... Encyclopedia of Mythology
Rituals of the Scandinavian cult- The article is part of a series about Northern Paganism... Wikipedia
Religious attacks- (crimes) in the terminology of the current law, crimes against faith and the regulations protecting it; in the terminology of the draft criminal code, encroachments on laws protecting faith. According to Jewish legal views, the concept of sin and...
Rituals and holidays- Nouns DIVINE SERVICE, service, high. priesthood, obsolete service. Rituals and religious actions performed by clergy with the participation of believers, as a rule, in a special room, determined by the requirements... ... Dictionary of Russian synonyms
Liturgical rites- ♦ (ENG devotions, liturgical) religious activities, including holidays and rituals, in which feelings for God are expressed through worship... Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms
Crisis Rites- religious or ritualized rituals performed during a crisis (natural disasters, crop failure, etc.) and having significant psychotherapeutic significance for those people who believe in the effectiveness of such rituals. IN modern societies… … encyclopedic Dictionary in psychology and pedagogy
Church rituals- Ritual is the outward expression of a person’s beliefs. Man is a sensually spiritual being, in whose nature the ideal spiritual being is united with the sensual and material: therefore, in his imagination he tries to clothe the ideal in... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Ephron
Church rituals- a person is a phenomenon that combines the sensual and spiritual sides. Therefore, the abstract, ideal world it strives to embody in some real image, because only then does it receive meaning for a person and become... ... Complete Orthodox Theological Encyclopedic Dictionary
Peoples of Siberia religious beliefs- More than 30 aboriginal peoples live in Siberia, belonging to 9 language groups: 1) Samoyed (Nenets, Enets, Nganasans, Selkups); 2) Ugric (Khanty, Mansi), Ugrians and Samodians are often included in one, Uralic, family of languages; 3) standing... ...
Buryat religious beliefs- Buryats are the indigenous population of Buryatia. They also live in the Irkutsk and Chita regions. The number of Buryats in Russia is 421 thousand people, including 249.5 thousand in Buryatia (1989). Among the Buryats, Buddhism (Lamaism), Christianity (Orthodoxy) and traditional... ... Religions of the peoples of modern Russia
Books
- , Ya. D. Koblov. Religious rites and customs of the Mohammedan Tatars (when naming a newborn, wedding and funeral rites). Reproduced in the original author's spelling of the 1908 edition... Buy for 1927 UAH (Ukraine only)
- Religious rites and customs of the Mohammedan Tatars, Ya. D. Koblov. This book will be produced in accordance with your order using Print-on-Demand technology. Religious rites and customs of the Mohammedan Tatars (when naming a newborn, wedding ceremonies and...
For a long time, the well-being of people working on the land depended on the forces of nature: the height of the sun above the horizon, weather conditions, and the length of the growing season. To appease pagan gods and get a good harvest, our ancestors
carried out all sorts of rituals associated with the days of the solstice. Subsequently, they organically intertwined with Orthodox Christian holidays. The main ones are Christmas, Easter, Trinity.
Holidays that have changed little since pagan times remain favorite among the people. It's a farewell
winter, or Maslenitsa, timed to coincide with the spring equinox. At this time they were settling down
Rice. 3. Scarecrow Maslenitsa
folk festivities, pancakes were baked, and at the end, an effigy of Maslenitsa was burned, symbolizing the end of the cold weather and the onset of spring.
In the summer, Ivan Kupala Day was celebrated, when on the very short night people have been collecting for years medicinal herbs possessing miraculous
by force, danced around the fire and looked for a fern flower. People believed that it helped to understand the language of birds and animals and indicate the location of treasures buried in the ground.
Now, unfortunately, the details of many customs and rituals have been lost or partially preserved. However, local historians are trying to restore what was lost. Now in many populated areas And educational institutions They hold the “Farewell to Winter” holiday, where the customs of Maslenitsa festivities are revived.
Religions.
Rice. 5. Svyatogorsk Monastery
By religion, in our region there are Christians (Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Old Believers), Jews, Muslims and others. The main types of temples include churches, cathedrals, and synagogues. The most famous Orthodox monuments in our region are the Svyatogorsk Monastery and the Assumption Church in the city of Mariupol, which has preserved the religious traditions of the Greeks. However, most of the religious buildings
in the region was destroyed in the 30s of the 20th century, and unique examples of icon painting from different schools and religious objects were lost forever.
7. Tell us about your family's traditions.
8. Make up family tree your family.
CREATIVE PROJECT
Subject:“Drawing up a pedigree tree for your family”
Target: Introduce students to the algorithm for compiling a family tree. Make a family tree.
We are all branches of one big mighty tree, which unites many generations of relatives. It is in the family that many customs and rituals are sacredly preserved, and the memory of previous generations lives on. One way to preserve this valuable information is to compile family tree. How to do it?
1) Make a list of your next of kin.
2) Collect basic information about them: dates and places of birth, study, work, military service, marriage.
3) Find relatives who have information about your ancestors and write down their stories.
4) Draw up a geographical passport of your family - specify the regions of residence of relatives and ancestors.
 |
Collect documents stored in the home archives of relatives - these are the most important sources of information. Label the photos (who is shown, date and location of shooting).
FROM THE DIARY OF A LOCAL HISTORY:
Easter.Almost all Easter traditions originated in worship. Even the scope of Easter folk festivities is associated with breaking the fast after Lent - a time of abstinence, when all holidays, including family ones, were transferred to the celebration of Easter. The symbols of Easter become everything that expresses Renewal (Easter streams), Light (Easter fire), Life (Easter cakes, eggs and hares).
Starting from Easter night and the next forty days (before Easter is celebrated), it is customary to “Christify”, that is, greet each other with the words: “Christ is risen!” –
“Truly he is risen!”, while kissing three times. This custom dates back to apostolic times.
The Easter fire plays a large role in worship, as well as in folk festivities. It symbolizes the Light of God, enlightening all nations after Christ's Resurrection. In Greece, as well as in major cities Believers wait in Russian Orthodox churches before the Easter service Holy Fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. If the fire successfully arrives from Jerusalem, the priests solemnly distribute it to the temples of the city. Believers immediately light their candles from it. After the service, many take the lamp with the fire home, where they try to keep it going throughout the year.
Christmas.In the hierarchy of Russian holidays Orthodox Church Christmas takes second place after Easter.
Under the influence of the Christian Church, Christmastide began to be associated with Christmas rituals and was celebrated according to church calendar- from Christmas to Epiphany. Their coincidence in time (the beginning of the year) contributed to the rapprochement of Slavic Christmas rituals with the church ones.
Christmas time is especially busy magical rituals, fortune telling, prognostic signs, customs and prohibitions regulating the behavior of people, which distinguishes Christmastide from the entire calendar year. Mythological meaning Christmastide is determined by their “borderline” character - at this time the sun turns from winter to summer; daylight hours shift from darkness to light; the old one ends and the old one begins New Year; the Savior is born, and the world of chaos is replaced by divine order. WITH
The “borderline” period between the old and new economic years is associated with ideas about the coming to earth of the souls of the dead from the other world, about revelry evil spirits in the middle of winter. According to popular beliefs, the invisible presence of spirits among living people provided the opportunity to look into their future, which explains the numerous forms of Christmas fortune-telling.
Rituals exist in most religions and are designed to strengthen a person’s faith, since they are widespread and capable of influencing people’s consciousness, creating the visible side of faith.
Religious rites
A religious ritual is a set of actions that are performed in a strict order, often using religious symbols, slogans, songs and prayers. Rituals have been used since time immemorial, when most peoples still adhered to pagan beliefs. The word "ritual" can be used as a synonym. The purpose of these events is to strengthen faith, to make dogma visible, since people by nature are more inclined to believe in what they see, rather than in invisible deities. Rituals include:
- Wedding;
- Sacrifice;
- Pilgrimage to holy places;
- Initiation;
- Baptism;
- Funeral service for the dead, etc.
Some peoples, such as the Aztecs, Mayans, ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, inhabitants of Carthage, etc., had human sacrifices in ancient times, which were supposed to make the gods loyal to the believers. For example, people could ask God for rain during a drought, or for a good harvest, for victory in a war, etc. With the spread of monotheistic religions, these rituals ceased to exist.
Many peoples continue to have rituals involving animal sacrifice, for example, Muslims during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. It is also common among Jews, Armenians, etc. Animals such as a ram, a rooster, a dove, etc. are sacrificed.
Basically, the ceremonies are performed by the religious clergy, and this serves as a method to enhance the status of the clergy. For example, in particularly religious Christian communities, especially in the Middle Ages, the wedding ritual could not take place without the presence of a priest. And without a funeral service, people were afraid that the soul of their relative would not go to heaven. Over time, this led to the fact that in the Middle Ages the church in many countries, especially in Catholic Europe, became corrupt, and Catholic priests demanded money and gifts for blessings or funerals.
