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Ancestor Worship in Pagan Cultures
By Admin Webmaster 8/9/2021 9:49:57 AMThe concept of ancestor worship is not a new one for many Pagans today. Ancient cultures often venerated those who came before them, and even now, in our contemporary society, it’s not uncommon at all to find celebrations that honor the ancestors in a variety of different ways.
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Jewish Handwashing Rituals
By Admin Webmaster 7/9/2021 10:24:55 AMIn Jewish custom, handwashing is more than good hygienic practice. Required before eating a meal at which bread is served, handwashing is a mainstay in the religious Jewish world beyond the dining room table.
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Holy Cows: Hinduism's Blessed Bovines
By Admin Webmaster 6/25/2021 10:28:50 PMAs the sheep is to Christianity, the cow is to Hinduism. Lord Krishna was a cowherd, and the bull is depicted as the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Today the cow has almost become a symbol of Hinduism.
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The Importance of the "Hadith" for Muslims
By Admin Webmaster 6/19/2021 8:08:24 AMThe term hadith (pronounced ha-DEETH) refers to any of the various collected accountings of the words, actions, and habits of the Prophet Mohammad during his lifetime. In the Arabic language, the term means "report," "account" or "narrative;" the plural is ahadith.
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Hindu Wedding Rituals
By Admin Webmaster 6/2/2021 9:44:13 AMHindu wedding rituals may vary in detail depending on which part of India the bride and the groom come from. Notwithstanding regional variations and diversity of languages, culture, and customs, the basic tenets of a Hindu marriage are common throughout the Indian subcontinent.
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The Religious Implications of Shaving in Judaism
By Admin Webmaster 5/19/2021 10:10:02 AMThe laws about shaving in Judaism are diverse and detailed and different communities observe different customs. But are Jewish men required to have beards?
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Samurai Zen
By Admin Webmaster 5/17/2021 11:23:13 AMOne of the things "everybody knows" about Japanese history is that the famous samurai warriors were "into" Zen. But is that true, or false?
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Bindi: The Great Indian Forehead Art
By Admin Webmaster 5/14/2021 10:11:51 AMThe bindi is arguably the most visually fascinating of all forms of body decoration.
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What's a Segulah?
By Admin Webmaster 5/10/2021 10:07:02 AMIf you've ever been to a Jewish simcha (celebration) of any kind, you've probably noticed certain traditions or interesting quirks that seem a bit hokey.
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The Four Laava: the Sikh Wedding Hymns
By Admin Webmaster 5/7/2021 10:17:48 AMThe four hymns of Laav are performed during the four nuptial rounds of the Sikh wedding ceremony. Each Laav describes a different spiritual stage of married life, ending with the soul-bride and divine groom realizing their ultimate destiny as one soul.
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The Symbolic Meaning of Candles in Judaism
By Admin Webmaster 5/5/2021 8:48:35 AMCandles have deep symbolic meaning in Judaism and are used on a wide variety of religious occasions.
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Lord Kartikeya
By Admin Webmaster 5/3/2021 8:48:55 AMThe Hindu God known variously as Murugan, Subramaniam, Sanmukha or Skanda
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Ten Famous Buddhas: Where They Came From; What They Represent
By Admin Webmaster 4/28/2021 9:56:55 AMWhere ten famous Buddhas came from; What they represent?
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Guide to Anand Karaj, the Sikh Wedding Ceremony
By Admin Webmaster 4/26/2021 9:19:43 AMProgram Guide for Anand Karaj, the Sikh Wedding Ceremony
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All About Important Life Events of Sikhism
By Admin Webmaster 4/23/2021 10:01:08 AMAll About Sikhism Customs and Ceremonies
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The Hamsa Hand and What It Represents. This Protective Talisman Guards Against Evil
By Admin Webmaster 4/19/2021 9:53:05 AMThe hamsa, or hamsa hand, is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. In its most common form, the amulet is shaped like a hand with three extended fingers in the middle and a curved thumb or pinky finger on either side. It is thought to protect against the “evil eye."
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Vesak: Most Sacred Holy Day of Theravada Buddhism
By Admin Webmaster 4/16/2021 9:35:23 AMVesak is the most sacred holy day of Theravada Buddhism. Also called Visakha Puja or Wesak, Vesak is an observation of the birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana) of the historical Buddha.
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8 Types of Hindu Marriage in the Laws of Manu
By Admin Webmaster 4/14/2021 9:02:07 AMThe Laws of Manu (Manusmriti) is considered to be one of the standard religious texts for Hindus. Also called the Manava Dharma Shastra, it is regarded as a supplemental text to the Vedas and is an authoritative source of guidance for the norms of domestic and religious living for ancient Hindus.
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Ramadan Mubarak and Other Ramadan Greetings
By Admin Webmaster 4/12/2021 11:04:22 AMDuring Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Muslim faithful greet one another by saying, "Ramadan Mubarak." This greeting, which means "Blessed Ramadan," is just one traditional way that people welcome friends and passersby alike during this holy time.
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Marriage and Weddings in Judaism
By Admin Webmaster 4/9/2021 9:48:58 AMJudaism views marriage as the ideal human state. Both the Torah and the Talmud view a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, as incomplete.
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Classical Indian Musical Instrument Resources
By Admin Webmaster 4/7/2021 10:58:21 AMKirtan is a tradition established by First Guru Nanak and his minstrel companion Bhai Mardana. Traditional instruments used to perform Kirtan are an integral aspect of the Sikh worship service which is musical in nature.
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The Bhagavad-Gita - Introduction and Chapter Summaries
By Admin Webmaster 4/5/2021 10:14:13 AMDuring the centuries in which Buddhism was establishing itself in the east of India, the older Brahmanism in the west was undergoing the changes which resulted in the Hinduism which is now the prevailing religion of India.
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Hindu Wedding Rituals
By Admin Webmaster 3/31/2021 9:16:33 AMHindu wedding rituals may vary in detail depending on which part of India the bride and the groom come from. 13 Steps of a Vedic Marriage Ceremony
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<div class=noidunghover><p class=tieudehover>The Ganges: Hinduism`s Holy River Why the Ganges Is Considered Sacred</p></div>");' onmouseout="hidetip();">The Ganges: Hinduism's Holy River Why the Ganges Is Considered Sacred By Admin Webmaster 3/26/2021 9:54:50 AM The River Ganges, running for more than 1500 miles across some of the most densely populated areas in Asia, is perhaps the most religiously significant body of water in the world. The river is considered to be sacred and spiritually pure, though it is also one of the most polluted rivers on earth.
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Blessings of a Hindu Wedding
By Admin Webmaster 3/24/2021 10:56:59 AMThe Hindu marriage ceremony, a rite known as samskara, has many components. It is quite beautiful, highly specific, and it is filled with chanting, Sanskrit blessings, and ritual that is thousands of years old. In India, a Hindu wedding can last weeks or days. In the West, a Hindu wedding typically is at least two hours long.
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The Taoist Altar
By Admin Webmaster 3/17/2021 10:03:28 AMCentral to ceremonial forms of Taoist practice is the Taoist altar—the external representation of both Taoist cosmology and of the Internal Alchemical processes the practitioner undergoes on the path to Immortality.
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Vesak: Most Sacred Holy Day of Theravada Buddhism
By Admin Webmaster 3/15/2021 11:06:03 AMVesak is the most sacred holy day of Theravada Buddhism. Also called Visakha Puja or Wesak, Vesak is an observation of the birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana) of the historical Buddha.
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Simchat Bat. Naming Ceremonies for Jewish Girls
By Admin Webmaster 3/12/2021 10:13:02 AMIts a girl! When do you name her? When should you throw the party? After eight days, two weeks, a month? As opposed to a brit, circumcision, of a boy on the eighth day, there are no explicit rituals for a girl. Instead, there are customs for a Simchat Bat, celebration of a birth of a daughter.
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Fasting, Praying, and Regular Hindu Rituals
By Admin Webmaster 3/10/2021 10:36:52 AMIn Hinduism, each day of the week is devoted to one or more of the faith's deities. Special rituals, including prayer and fasting, are performed to honor these gods and goddesses. Each day also is associated with a celestial body from Vedic astrology and has a corresponding gemstone and color.
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Hair Covering in Judaism
By Admin Webmaster 3/8/2021 9:34:05 AMWhy do some Jewish women cover their hair?