Part 1 - Introduction (rituals in the Purāṇic period)

The idea of sectarianism is fully developed in the Purāṇic religion from the simplest mode of worshipping the Sun-god as a deified form of the nature in the Vedic pantheon. The worship of the deity has given rise to different ritualistic performances. The term ritual defines a sequence of activities, including gesture, words, etc., practised among a particular class of people or place. It involves all the worship, rites and sacraments, purificatory rites and different organized actions of common people. The rituals in the Purāṇic period find its expression with numerous vratas, pūjās, festivals, etc., related to the particular deity or cult. Along with the vratas and pūjās, etc., there are found the sacrificial and household ceremonies and customary laws, etc., those closely follow the Vedas. For every householder, the worship of the Sun is prescribed as daily obligations in the Purāṇas that involves the ācamana, arghya of water and recitation of a hymn invoking the Sun-god under various names such as Vivasvat, Bhāskara, Savitṛ, Viṣṇu, etc.^[1]