Nitya karma refers to those ''

karmas Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...

'' (or rituals) which have to be performed daily by Hindus. The Hindu

Shastras ''Shastra'' (, IAST: , ) is a Sanskrit word that means "precept, rules, manual, compendium, book or treatise" in a general sense.Monier Williams, Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Article on 'zAstra'' The wo ...

say that not performing nitya karmas leads to sin. The nitya karmas include: *Snana (

bathing Bathing is the act of washing the body, usually with water, or the immersion of the body in water. It may be practiced for personal hygiene, religious ritual or therapeutic purposes. By analogy, especially as a recreational activity, the term is ...

) *

Sandhyavandanam Sandhyavandanam (Sanskrit: , ', lit. 'salutation to (Goddess) Twilight' or 'salutation during the twilight') is a mandatory religious ritual centring around the recitation of the Gayatri mantra, traditionally supposed to be performed three times ...

* Devataarchanam *

Aupasana Aupasana is a yajna performed daily by Hindus who have been initiated during marriage. Hindu marriage is conducted with offerings made in the fire. Aupasana, which must be performed every day, is commenced in this fire and it must be preserved thro ...

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Agnihotra Agnihotra (IAST: ''Agnihotra'', Devnagari: अग्निहोत्र) refers to the yajna of casting of ghee into the sacred fire as per strict rites, and may include twice-daily heated milk offering made by those in the Śrauta tradition. Th ...

m Nitya is a Sanskrit word meaning “eternal” or “permanent.” Its opposite is anitya, which refers to the Hindu concept of impermanence, in that suffering does not last, but neither do the material comforts of life. Hindu and yogic philosophy asserts that humans are trapped in a cycling of suffering, death and rebirth. Nitya Karma does not necessarily mean daily duties. It includes any regular/periodic scheduled activities/duties. E.g.: Amavasya tharpanam, Grahana tharpanam, Pithru devasam. There is a subdivision of Nithya karma which is called Nai-Nithya karma. This means compulsory karma but conditional. E.g. Grahana related karmas.

See also