The document summarizes the origins and evolution of the Satyanarayan Pooja ritual in Hinduism. It traces the development of Hindu scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and how they shaped religious practices. The Satyanarayan Pooja ritual is described in the Skanda and Bhavishya Puranas as focusing on the principles of bhakti (devotion), karma (duty), dharma (righteousness) and moksha (liberation). It involves prayers, offerings, storytelling and aims to popularize spiritual concepts through allegorical tales emphasizing moral values.

1. SRI SATYANARAYAN POOJA is MEETING GOD

2. To understand the evolution of Satyanarayan Pooja we need to look at the sequence of events in our traditions

9. UPANISHADS One line summary of the 10 major Upanishads ISHA : Karma without attachment. KENA : God exists behind natural process. KATHA : Immortality is simply union with God. PRASNA: Discourse on Prana. AITAREYA: Creation and pure consciousness. MUNDAKA: Knowledge and Wisdom TAITTIRIYA: Thou art Brahman. MANDUKYA: Meaning of AUM CHANDOGYA: Tat Tvam Asi. SWETASVATARA: Meditation the way to God

11. Hinduism as practiced today is almost predominantly influenced by the teachings from the Puranas. THE 18 PURANAS ARE: The puranic texts run into innumerable volumes. However, only 18 Puranas have been thoroughly studied and translated. The Puranas are written in Sanskrit in the form of shlokas BRAHMA PURANA VISHNU PURANA SHIVA PURANA BRAHMANDA PURANA BHAGAVATA PURANA LINGA PURANA BRAHMAVAYVARTA PURANA NARADIYA PURANA SKANDA PURANA MARKANDEYA PURANA GARUDA PURANA AGNI PURANA BHAVISHYA PURANA PADMA PURANA MATSYA PURANA VAMANA PURANA VARAHA PURANA KURMA PURANA

13. THE SATYANARAYAN POOJA

14. The Satyanarayan Pooja is described in detail in the “ Reva Khanda” section of the “ Skanda Purana” and the “ Bhavishya Purana” The above shloka summarizes the essence of the Satyanarayan Pooja and states that to attain moksha Observe and follow the principles of BHAKTI KARMA DHARMA JYANA

21. During the Purana period, India was primarily an agricultural country. Hence, all the rivers enjoyed a special status in peoples lives. The economic might from the waters of these rivers soon elevated them to a divine level and all the rivers of India attained a spiritual status and were revered and worshipped. That is why all the tirtha and yatra sites are found all along the major rivers in India. THE RIVERS ARE: GANGES YAMUNA NARMADA GODAVARI KRISHNA CAUVERY

27. In the Satyanarayan Pooja and the Katha the challenge for us lies in decoding the truth behind every incongruous ritual and mythological story and applying that concept to our present way of life.