VIRTUE - The Pancha Nitya Karmas

VIRTUE - The Pancha Nitya Karmas


In addition to the yamas and niyamas, our religion provides us with a second group of guidelines to help us become better people. These are the pancha nitya karmas, "five constant duties." We could say that they are an amalgam of all the counsel of the Vedas and Agamas to guide daily and yearly religious life. These five obligatory religious practices are simple and applicable for all. Study them and put them into practice in your own life.


1. VIRTUOUS LIVING (Dharma)


Proper conduct follows the laws of dharma and includes observing the teachings of the Holy Kural, remaining celibate until marriage, obeying sthree dharma for women and purusha dharma for men. It is goodness in thought, word and deed.


2. WORSHIP (Upasana)


Personal worship in the home shrine includes performance of puja, sadhana, japa and religious study. Regular devotions in the home and temple bring forth love of God and prepare the mind for the practices of meditation.


3. HOLY DAYS (Utsava)


The observance of Saivite festivals in the home and temple, including guru puja days, brings deep communion with God during highly spiritual times of the year. This includes fasting and attending the temple on Fridays, the Hindu holy day.


4. PILGRIMAGE (Tirthayatrai)


At least once each year every Saivite must make a pilgrimage to a holy place, whether near or far. This is a time when all worldly matters are set aside and God becomes the central and singular focus of life.


5. SACRAMENTS (Samskaras)


Sacraments are special ceremonies which mark our passages in life and sanctify these experiences. They include the rites of birth, first feeding, learning, marriage, death, monastic vows for monks and more.


REVIEW


1. Our constant duties as Saivites are the pancha nitya karmas.


2. They are virtuous living, worship, holy days, pilgrimage and sacraments.