Methodology

In order to simplify the Karmkanda two objectives have been kept in mind:

1. Making the performance of ritual easy so as to reduce the dependence on a priest wherever possible.
2. Where services of a priest are essential, make it easy for locally available priests to perform these rituals.

To achieve above objectives following steps have been taken:

• All acts involved in the ritual have been identified so that they can be performed by priest of any Hindu community or by any individual.
• The Sanskrit recitations of prayers have been reduced and made easier to recite correctly. 
• All Sanskrit prayers have been written in Sanskrit and Roman script for correct phonetic recitation. They have been written in bold font to distinguish from other writings.
• All Sanskrit recitations have been translated into English to make the rituals meaningful.
• Alternate angas (parts of a ritual) of a Sanskare, as per Kashmiri tradition, have been identified and given separately to maintain our tradition if so desired by the performer. Other optional angas such as Bali Vishva Deva homa, performed by some on Shivratri and as death ritual, have also been given separately.
• Tarpan (water oblations for devas/reshis/Pitr) have been given for Pitr (ancestors) only.
• Use of materials needed for the rituals has been simplified.
• Preypun. It is a bhog (Prasad) which is just part of the Pradhan Bhaga among all Hindu pujas. It carries two line recitations. In the Kashmiri tradition Preypun has a unique position. It is ubiquitous in all pujas as a separate part.for offering bhog. It carries long recitations involving not only the worship of prominent deities but also of their weapons, followed by worship of sky mothers separately. This has been reduced to worship of deities only.
• In a Havan, we perform five sahkars in one go. Each sahkar has one thousand recitations of the particular deity. Thus in all five thousand ahuties are made in one havan. Again each sahkar takes about three hours. Thus the total time taken in one havan is about 18 hours including 3 hours taken in preparatory pujas called Pratham Bhaga and concluding prayers called Uttra Bhaga.This practice needs to be changed. We should restrict performance of havan to one sahkar only at a time which will take about six hours. Print outs or booklets giving recitations of 1000 names of chosen deity should be made in sufficient numbers for public participation in the event.
• Sanskara rituals like Mekhal, Vivah and Antyeshti need to  be simplified not only in puja content but also we have to change social customs associated with them.
• Mekhal, like many other Sanskaras has lost its relevance in modern times. Traditional initiation is confined now to priest class only. Most Hindus get their children initiated at community institutions like temples and ashrams. We should also join the bandwagon. It is a tradition  of initiation of our boys into Hindu fold which needs a simple puja ritual  of bathing the child with consecrated water ( devgon) followed by a havan. There is no need for lengthy celebrations of Mahindirat and Koshulhom associated with it. It should be just one day affair at home or outside.
• Vivah continues to be an important Sanskara which has an excellent format among all Hindus with little local traditions. Our social traditions are very lengthy and time consuming. Not only the family but even  the boy and girl who are getting married get exhausted at the end of the day, all in the name of social customs. It is an event which has to be enjoyed. The simplification suggested is:

            a)Day One- Mahindirat . The celebration should be limited to midnight only two prepare for the functions of next day. The Music and Dance can start early in the day and continue while food is served.
            b)Day two- DevGon and departure/reception of Bharat. The number of bharatis should be limited to blood relations only from both sides to focus on the marriage puja and wonderful traditions associated with it. The idea here is to  reduce the fatigue of the couple who have to go through the rituals of DevGon puja at home and then through vivah puja and to  minimize the frustration of both the parties in assembling the bharaties and ensure timely departure and huge effort that goes at  brides place in arranging food for unspecified number of guests.

           c)Day three- Reception. Both sides should invite their guests at a commonly agreed place In western societies the number of guests is  confirmed in advance and even seats allotted to them at eating place .That prevents lot of wasteful expenditure. The expenses should be equally shared by both families. That would be a healthy tradition. Many Hindu societies follow this tradition

• Antyeshti From the practical point of view the traditions may be described as under:

1. Cremation traditions on the day of death or soon after
2. Post cremation traditions

1. Cremation traditions on the day of death are almost universal among Hindus .The tradition of Yama among Kashmiri Pandits on the day of death is unique to  Kashmiri Pandits.  The present day post cremation traditions among Kashmiri Pandis include:

• Collection of Ashes
• Tenth day Kriya at River bank
• Eleventh day Kriya at home
• Twelth day Kriya at home
• Fortnightly( Pachwar for first three months, monthly( Maswar for for first six months), Shadmos at the end of six months and Wahrwar at the end of one year. The mourning closes after that.

These Pujas have been given in detail in the book “Socio Cultural and Religious Traditions of Kashmiri Pandits” (kp-culture-and religion blogspot.com). These are considered very long by present standards and need to be shortened.

Alternate Simplified Kriya:

• Day of Cremation- No pujas are needed. Body should be given a bath and then cremated
• Collection of ashes( latest by 3 days after cremation)
• Shradanjali (Public function to pay homage to the deceased and close mourning period)
• Havan (any day suitable after Shradanjali as a substitute for 10^th, 11^th and 12^th day traditions)
• Wahrver( Shradha) at the end of first year of death as per lunar calendar.