Five Practices
Pañcha Kriyāḥ
पञ्चक्रियाः
THESE FIVE ŚLOKAS OUTLINE THE MINIMAL HINDU PRACTICES, ALSO KNOWN AS PAÑCHA NITYA KARMAS, THAT PARENTS TEACH THEIR CHILDREN IN ORDER TO NURTURE FUTURE CITIZENS WHO ARE STRONG, SECURE, RESPONSIBLE, TOLERANT AND TRADITIONAL.
उपासना 1. Upāsanā: Worship
The dear children are taught daily worship in the family shrine room—rituals, disciplines, chants, yogas and religious study. They learn to be secure through devotion in home and temple, wearing traditional dress, bringing forth love of the Divine and preparing the mind for serene meditation.§
उत्सव 2. Utsava: Holy Days
The dear children are taught to participate in Hindu festivals and holy days in the home and temple. They learn to be happy through sweet communion with God at such auspicious celebrations. Utsava includes fasting and attending the temple on Monday or Friday and other holy days.§
धर्म 3. Dharma: Virtuous Living
The dear children are taught to live a life of duty and good conduct. They learn to be selfless by thinking of others first, being respectful of parents, elders and swāmīs, following divine law, especially ahiṁsā, mental, emotional and physical noninjury to all beings. Thus they resolve karmas.§
तीर्थयात्रा 4. Tīrthayātrā: Pilgrimage
The dear children are taught the value of pilgrimage and are taken at least once a year for darśana of holy persons, temples and places, near or far. They learn to be detached by setting aside worldly affairs and making God, Gods and gurus life’s singular focus during these journeys.§
संस्कार 5. Saṁskāra: Rites of Passage
The dear children are taught to observe the many sacraments which mark and sanctify their passages through life. They learn to be traditional by celebrating the rites of birth, name-giving, head-shaving, first feeding, ear-piercing, first learning, coming of age, marriage and death.§