A set of five activities can summarize the daily Hindu practices. Termed pancha kala kriya, this set of activities is all that a practicing Hindu needs. pancha means five, kala in this context is the daily schedule and kriya means activity.
The five activities span the spectrum of culture, lineage, tradition, theism, and spirituality. All the common practices fall under one or more of the five activities. An individual performing the activities fulfills all recommended and optional Hindu practices.
The set of five activities are easy to adopt and have quite a bit of flexibility.
What are the five activities or duties?
- To lead an intentional life, start the day with physical and mental cleansing. This is called abhigamana.
- Prepare to worship your deity of choice. This step is called upadhanam.
- Engage in the mode of worship. This step is ijya.
- Listen, read, contemplate on spirituality – svadhyaya.
- Before going to bed, establish a conscious body and mind connection – yog
Execute these five activities to find a balance in personal and professional life. Focus on quality and commitment towards pancha kala kriya. The quantity of time allotted for each step is secondary.
The daily practice articles on this site anchor and reference pancha kala kriya. Furthermore, each article has a connotation of optional or recommend practice.