RITUAL STANCE AND ANUSHTANA (अनुष्ठान)
*Why Hindu tradition has so many rituals?*
At basic level, rituals / _anushtana_ are part of *self discipline* activities
Self discipline is relevant for all religions and cultures.
In Hinduism _anushtana_ make up most of self discipline activity.
Recently researchers pointed out that performing any rituals (whether spiritual or not), even just for
the sake of it puts practitioner in *ritual stance*.
This ritual stance can improve focus, memory, and self-control.
In Hindu philosophy, _sadhaka_'s (साधक) first requirement is *self control*.
So the idea of introducing anushthana to _Sadhakas_ is to enable them to attain sufficient self
control in order to move further in their _Sadhana_.
_Anushtana_ also deepens the personal relationship between the sadhaka and the deity towards
which the spiritual process is intended.
Unfortunately most of the rituals have lost the goal of self control and are focused towards deity
worship for material benefits.
Culture to a large extent has contributed to dilution of effectiveness of rituals.
Most of these rituals have become dogmatic.
Nonetheless, sadhaka can adopt _anushtanas_ without the influence of popular culture.
If _anustanas_ are adopted in their purest form, _sadhaka_ will enjoy enormous benefits.
The choice is ours!
External reference: For more details on *ritual stand* please read article
“Enacting rituals to improve self-control” published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology:
https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpspa0000113
ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
Greetings!
ಮಧ್ವೇಶ ಕೆ, ವೇದಿಕ್ ಟ್ರೈಬ್
Madhwesh K, Vedic Tribe
