Sacrifices, ritual worship and propitiation : claims,concerns and costs

[arvindiyer]

The following is a compilation intended to be a ready reckoner of earlier posts discussing the adverse influence of ritual practices ranging from purportedly Vedic Yajnas to the more historically recent Pujas in Indian society.

Thoughts and Questions on Homas and Yajnas (Ranganath R)

Claims of boosted agricultural productivity around the Panjal Atirathram venue

Kariri Yajna (5-day sacrifice claiming to bring rain)

Examining risks of firewood burning

Funeral rites : Religion's exploitation of death

Postulated historic origins of modern-day Pujas

Claims of therapeutic effects of oppressive Made Snana ritual

Animal cruelty in ritual worship (Nag Panchami)

Food wastage in Hindu rituals

An attitude of bribery inculcated via rituals eg. Satyanarayana Vrata

Puja in the office : Hindu privilege in action

Vahan Pujas in India (Meera Nanda)

Pujas prior to space launches

A rationalist response to ritual excesses