English l 296 pages l K. V. Singh

This handy book tells the fascinating stories and explains the science behind the Hindu rites and rituals that we sometimes blindly follow. It is essential reading for anyone interested in India’s cultural tradition.

Why is tulsi considered sacred?

What is the meaning of namaste?

Why do Hindus light a lamp before performing a ritual?

Why is it forbidden to sleep facing south?

Why do Hindus chant ‘shanti’ three times after performing a ritual?

Millions of Hindus around the world grow up observing rites, rituals, and religious practices that form the core of Hinduism, but whose meaning they do not understand. These age-old customs, whose relevance has been lost in modern times, are often dismissed as meaningless superstitions. The truth is, however, that these practices reveal the philosophical and scientific approach to life that has characterized Hindu thought since ancient times; it is important to revive their original meanings today.