I am a Kashmiri Pandit. I am presenting this “Simplified worship manual for Kashmiri Pandits” at the request of biradari, particularly the younger generation, who grew up in Kashmir but now are scattered all over world. They have been impressed with my book “Socio-Cultural and Religious Traditions of Kashmiri Pandits” released in 2006. The scope for describing worship traditions in that book would not allow me to simplify the worship traditions. It was a presentation of our traditions as they exist.
One may or may not agree with the need for the performance of rituals in the modern times but no one cannot deny the fact that traditions act as a foundation of any community. We have to continue with them, but we have the full liberty of changing the format and even liturgy to suit times. That is the essence of Sanatana Dharma.
While writing my book, I studied worship rituals of other Hindu communities both in India and abroad. I found that Kashmiri Karkanda and traditions are the lengthiest of them all. For example, take the case of our Prepun (Bhog) - a usual worship in our tradition for almost all occasions. While as in other Hindu communities, bhog is just one of the acts of puja and is in two lines, in our case prepun has more recitation than the whole puja ritual. Similarly, Shivratri Puja includes elaborate ritual of puja followed by homa and tarpan for devas/reshis/pitras. Our antyeshti rituals at the time of death of loved one are equally very lengthy.
We are a small community. Had we not moved from Kashmir, our priests would have continued to help us with our elaborate traditions. However, our situation has changed. Our generations of priests, like many of us, have also suffered. They have lost their yajmans (clients) on whom they were dependent upon for their livelihood. There is hardly any younger generation of priests. Our puja traditions are now practiced by priests from other Hindu communities who do not follow our traditions. In such a situation, our younger generation is confused. We need to adapt to this new reality.
All Karmkandas are not static manuals. They are modified from time to time. Our present Kashmiri Karmkanda was written in the 17th century. It is time we take a fresh look at our worship rituals/traditions. The simplified version that I am presenting has been written with this objective.
It is recommended that person who conducts this ritual should go through this manual before actual performance. This will acquaint him with the Sanskrit recitation and methodology of the ritual. One will also realize the wisdom of our forefathers who visualized all manifestation as divine and laid footprints for us to follow.
Along with simplification of pooja rituals, I strongly feel that it is time we simplify our social events like marriage, yognopavit and antyeshti (death). I have included the changes that we need to make in these events.
With blessings
Piyaray Raina (Saddhak)
pl_raina@yahoo.com
15 August 2014
