What is The Importance of The Substances Used in Ritualistic Worship? (What do Dharmashastras Say and Why)

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Rituals to create Sanskars, Religious practices, Holy festivals, Religious festivals and Vowed observances are opportunities to put the teachings of Hindu Dharma into practice. Faith develops by following Dharmik conduct. Faith combined with propagation of Dharma helps unite those who have a zeal for Dharma. In unity, followers of Dharma can be protected from the heretics. Unity also helps fulfill a higher goal of 'Establishing the Divine Kingdom'. Since this task has Divine blessings, it is considered to be samashti sadhana (collective spiritual practice for the benefit of Society) of the highest order. When vyashti sadhana (individual spiritual practice) is combined with samashti sadhana, God-realisation can take place faster!

In the Olden times the subject of Dharma was an integral part of the Hidu education system. As the importance of Dharma was known, it was the central point of Hindu life. With the passage of time, as Hindus stopped getting education on Dharma, the tendency of the hindus to aboide by dharma naurally became less.Presently in majority of Hindus, Loyalty towards Dharma and worship og God, has survived oly because of various Holy festivals, religious festivals, vowed religious observances and traditional religious acts. various regular and occasional religious acts have acquired and important place in the Hindu social, cultural and spiritual life. the daily religious acts include all acts from the regular ritualistic worship, going to temples, to the rites performed after death. The reason these acts are dibe wutg tge sane kevek if fautg eveb tidatm us tge first- hand experience all have had of the proven science of sprituality in these acts. When a person understands the exact science in a religious act that he is performing, his belief in the act increases. He also takes into account importance of the act and performs it with more faith. an done with faith gives greater benefit. Similarly, best results are obtained only if the religious act is performed according to the science of Spirituality. Holy texts presently available do contain information on various relgious acts, but they do not give the subte level spiritual analysis of hese acts. The special feature of the series of Holy texts 'What do Dharmashastras say that, besides explaining the subtle Science of Spiritualityin various religious acts, they also mention the proper methods of performing them. If the scientific reason in each religious act is made known it will help attract the present younger generation towards spirituality. We pray unto the Holy feet of the Guru, to bestwo good sense to all to implement the religious act explained in this Holy Text and that they make rapid spritual progress.

Some religious rituals are incomplete without the help of other components, for example, specific substances are necessary in ritualistic worship of God. These components aiding the religious rituals are an important link in seeking the grace of God through the medium of religious rituals. Understanding the spiritual importance of each of these components enhances the bhav (spiritual emotion) towards them, thereby making the religious ritual rich in bhav. With this objective in mind the spiritual importance and salient features of the components like turmeric, vermilion, gandh, flowers, akshata, betel nut, coconut, panchakhadya, incense sticks, camphor etc. used in ritualistic worship are mentioned.