Annaprashan (ritual of feeding the first morsel of food to the baby)
For a baby boy the sixth or eighth month and for a baby girl the fifth or any other odd numbered month is appropriate to perform the rite of Annaprashan.
Some prayers which are useful to awaken bhav (Spiritual emotion) in day-to-day life
Prayer means pleading fervently from God. In other words, it is asking God for something with intense yearning. Prayer includes respect, love, pleading and faith. Through a prayer, a devotee expresses his helplessness and offers the doership of the task to God.
Significance of prayer experienced by Non-Hindus
Westerners and Hollywood film stars taking up Hinduism as their religion, after realizing the importance and the scientific approach involved in every action done.
How to offer Prayer !
Saying a specific prayer to a particular deity actually enhances our faith in the presence of God.
Importance of donating after having darshan (viewing) in a Devalay (Temple)
We all go to the temple in order to have darshan of the Deity and receive blessings. By following the guidelines given to us in our shastras, we can derive maximum Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) from the darshan.
Actions to be performed while leaving the Devalay (Temple) and their underlying science
In order to derive maximum benefit from the darshan (viewing), one can follow simple guidelines as per the Hindu Dharma.
The seven layers in the arrangement of a Devalay (Temple)
A Devalay is divided into seven levels. Each level is connected with a Cosmic Principle and in turn purifies the related chakra (Centre in the body through which the spiritual energy flows) of the person taking darshan (viewing) of a Devalay.
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How many pradakshinas (circumambulations) should be performed around a Deity ?
Many of us go to the Devalay (Temple) to have darshan (viewing) of the Deity. In order to take maximum benefit of the darshan, one must do pradakshina of the Deity.
Method of going from the premises towards the sabhamandap of the Devalay (Temple)
Most of us visit the Devalay in order to have darshan (viewing) of the deity and derive benefit from the saatvik vibrations.
Actions to be performed before entering a Devalay (Temple) and the underlying science
We all may be aware of certain actions that have to be performed when taking darshan (view) in a Devalay. For example, removing one’s footwear, doing Namaskar at the main door before entering the temple, not covering one’s neck at the time of darshan of the Deity.