TOLL FREE NUMBERS HARYANA

have you ever been in a situation when you were desperately looking for a toll free number of either government offices or a manufacturing company to lodge a complaint or seek some information. I have experienced this on a few occasions and thought that I must get hold of the Toll Free numbers  for Haryana and put them in a blog for the benefit of others.

Toll Free Numbers of Haryana

GURGAON

S.No.              NAME & ADDRESS                  FPH No.

1 M/s G.E Capital Business Management Services Pvt Ltd    18001801290

2 M/s GE Capital IBusiness Management Services Pvt Ltd     18001800043

3 M/s GE Capital IBusiness Management Services Pvt Ltd     18001801275

4 M/s G.E. capital star National service Ltd           18001801230

5 GE Capital                                                            18001801295

6 GE Capital                                                            18001808282

7 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001802111

8 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001802333

9 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001802244

10 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001802266

11 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001802277

12 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001802299

13 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001801244

14 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001801263

15 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001801264

16 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001802253

17 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001801231

18 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001801268

19 MAX New york Life insurance Co Ltd 18001805433

20 MAX New york Life insurance Co Ltd 18001805577

21 MAX New york Life insurance Co Ltd 18001801288

22 MAX New york Life insurance Co Ltd 18001801299

23 MAX New york Life insurance Co Ltd 18001805588

24 CITI Bank                                             18001802484

25 CITI Bank                                             18001800123

26 CITI Bank                                             18001805626

27 CITI Bank                                             18001802274

28 CITI Bank                                             18001802884

29 CITI Bank                                             18001802265

30 M/s American Express Bank 18001801255

31 M/s American Express Bank 18001802639

32 M/s American Express Bank 18001801252

33 M/s American Express Bank 18001801247

34 M/s American Express Bank 18001801248

35 M/s American Express Bank 18001801249

36 M/s American Express Bank 18001801251

37 M/s American Express Bank 18001801666

38 M/s American Express Bank 18001801261

39 M/s American Express Bank 18001801144

40 M/s American Express Bank 18001801188

41 M/s American Express Bank 18001801245

42 M/s American Express Bank 18001801241

43 M/s American Express Bank 18001801242

44 Vipul Medcorp-P Ltd             18001801166

45 Vipul Medcorp-P Ltd             18001801177

46 Bertelesmann Mkt services india Pvt Ltd 18001801215

47 M/s Huges Communication Ltd 18001801243

48 M/S Hugehes Escorts Communication Ltd 18001804325

49 M/s Huges Communications India Pvt Ltd 18001801399

50 Schalastic India Private Ltd.                      18001801269

51 Schalastic India Private Ltd                       18001801270

52 xerox Modi Corporation Ltd                       18001801225

53 UTSTARCOM                                              18001801204

54 Punjab National bank                                 18001802222

55 Human Dynamic India P Ltd                      18001801219

56 Fidelity Technology India P. LTD                18001808000

57 TCl Ltd                                                        18001800977

58 Hindustan Lever Ltd                                   18001801240

59 Sonia Psricha Global                                  18001804455

60 Kingfisher airlines Ltd                                18001800101

61 Royal Airways Limited                               18001803333

62 India Meterological Department                18001801717

63 Tata Telecom Ltd                                        18001801211

64 British Airways                                           18001801213

65 SDRC India Pvt Ltd                                    18001801205

66 Hindustan Lever Ltd                                  18001801208

67 Hewlett Packard India sales Pvt Ltd          18001801209

68 Biored Laboratories P Ltd                         18001801224

69 Hero Honda Motors Ltd                             18001800016

70 Indian Airlines Ltd                                      18001801407

71 M/s Ind travels Pvt Ltd                               18001800888

72 M/s Paramount Airways                             18001801234

73 Jaipur Golden Transport Comp Pvt Ltd      18001800777

74 Carlson Hospitality Marketing India Pvt Ltd 18001800456

75 Carlson Hospitality Marketing India Pvt Ltd 18001800333

76 Alfa Control System Ltd                                 18001809911

77 Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages PVt Ltd       18001802653

78 Delta Energy Systems india Pvt Ltd               18001801016

79 Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd                              18001801013

80 Pepsico India Holding Pvt Ltd                         18001801038

81 Amway India Enterprises                               18001800789

82 Plantronics 18001801064

83 Yatra Online Pvt Ltd 18001800018

84 Yatra Online Pvt Ltd 18001800810

85 NIIT Ltd 18001806448

86 NIIT Ltd 18001806060

87 Doon Consulting Pvt Ltd 18001802237

88 Amercan Express Bank Ltd 18001801030

89 Technoroutes Network Pvt Ltd 18001808324

90 Inter globe aviation pvt ltd 18001803838

91 Mother dairy food s processing ltd 18001801018

92 Northens Minerals Ltd 18001805000

93 Polaris software Ltd 18001801218

94 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 18001800033

95 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 18001800044

96 Air France 18001800055

97 Air France 18001800066

98 Air France 18001800077

99 G 4 S Security Service India Pvt Ltd 18001802207

100 Agilent Technologies int. Ltd 18001801133

101 Oriental Bank Of Commerce 18001801235

102 M/s AVA Merchandising Pvt Ltd 18001800300

103 Business Octave Solutions Pvt Ltd 18001801818

104 Helpage India 18001801253

105 Security Intelligence Services India Ltd 18001801303

106 Becton Dickinson India Pvt Ltd 18001807700

107 Indian dream financial advisors pvt Ltd 18001807424

108 Quest Diagnostic India Pvt Ltd 18001805221

109 Quest Diagnostic India Pvt Ltd 18001805227

110 Quest Diagnostic India Pvt Ltd 18001808378

111 Quantum Net Technologies Ltd 18001800786

112 Rama Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd 18001807262

113 Transport Corporation of India Ltd 18001800824

114 Cryo Banks International India 18001801217

115 Pepsico India Holding Pvt Ltd 18001804356

116 Kamdhenu Ispat Limited 18001800545

117 IILM Institute for Higher education 18001804456

118 Delarue Cash systems Pvt ltd 18001801220

119 Amdoc Development center delhi pvt Ltd 18001802636

120 Amdoc Development center delhi pvt Ltd 18001802737

121 Indian Drug & Pharmecuetical Ltd 18001808080

122 American Express Pvt. Ltd 18001806333

123 American Express Pvt. Ltd 18001806444

124 American Express Pvt. Ltd 18001806555

125 American Express Pvt. Ltd 18001806777

126 American Express Pvt. Ltd 18001806888

127 American Express Pvt. Ltd 18001806999

128 B.S.N.L Black Barry Services BSNL Call Centre 18001801505

129 Air Works India Engineering Pvt Ltd 18001800311

130 Spanco BPO Services Ltd 18001801278

131 Avitech Animal Health Pvt Ltd 18001801345

132 Apparel Export Promotion 18001807000

133 Choice Hospitality India Ltd 18001801380

134 Alba Urmet Communication 18001800911

135 Schenider Electric India Pvt Ltd 18001801707

136 A 2 Z Infra Service Pvt Ltd 18001801315

137 Mesto Minerals India Pvt Ltd 18001801214

138 Aviva life Insurance CO. India PVT LTD 18001800433

139 Dashmesh Education Cheritable Trust 18001802233

140 Carlson Hospitality Marketing India Pvt Ltd 18001800369

141 Carlson Hospitality Marketing India Pvt Ltd 18001800700

142 Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance 18001800003

143 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 18001800099

144 EXXON Mobil Lubricants Pvt Ltd 18001801172

145 EXXON Mobil Lubricants Pvt Ltd 18001801173

146 American Express Pvt. Ltd. 18001801250

147 SITEL India Ltd 18001801222

148 Gurgaon Institute of Technology and Management 18001801719

149 Gurgaon College of Engineering for Women 18001802123

150 Gurgaon College of Engineering 18001802325

151 Mahasagar Enterprises 18001800441

152 Jindal Paddings Pvt. Ltd 18001801151

153 Synverse Technology India Pvt. Ltd 18001801277

154 Agilent Technologies int. Ltd 18001801517

155 Competent Automobile Co. Ltd 18001804500

156 Cruise Master 18001802577

157 Municipal Corporation 18001801256

158 Hero Management Services Ltd 18001800800

159 Best Cluster Soft Service Pvt. Ltd 18001804777

160 Signature Industries Pvt. Ltd. 18001801343

161 Navigent Technology Pvt. Ltd 18001801615

ROHTAK

S. No. NAME & ADDRESS FPH

162 LPS Bossard Kahawar 18001808181

163 PDM Society 18001806600

164 Nandi foundation 18001801812

165 Hari health education foundation 18001801010

166 Distt Election office 18001806337

167 Municipal committee Rohtak 18001805007

168 Mundra pipeline 18001801276

169 Balaji engg college 18001801664

HISSAR

S. No. NAME & ADDRESS FPH

170 Suptd. O/o ADC cum DRDO ,Hisar 18001801181

171 OM Istitute of Technology and Management 18001801182

172 DIRECTOR ,Extension Kisan Sewa Kendra 18001803001

173 O/C ESM Help line station 18001801041

174 Director of NRCE,Sirsa Road Hisar 18001801233

175 Distt. Election office cum DC mini sectt 18001801175

176 She. Chandu ram 18001801183

REWARI

S. No. NAME & ADDRESS FPH

171 ADC DRDA NREGA REWARI ROAD 18001801040

172 SECRUTARY MUNCIPLE COMMITTE 18001801050

173 COLLEGE ENG. OF TECHNOLOGY 18001801431

174 KRISHI VIKASH KENDAR AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY 18001804002

AMBALA

S. No. NAME & ADDRESS FPH

175 M/s Labotron Instruments Ltd 1800 180 3000

176 SDE LNMS Opp. Local OCB 1800 180 1022

177 M/s ICL Groups of College Solution 1800 180 1677

178 M/s ADC CUM CEO DRDA Vikas Sadan Court 18001801701

179 AGM(Broadband & Mktg) O/o The CGMT 18001801033

180 SP Railway Haryana Ambala Cantt 18001801135

181 DC & Election Commissioner 18001801045

KARNAL

S. No. NAME & ADDRESS FPH

182 Chief Scientist cum Head Krishi Vigyan Kendra 18001803111

183 M/S UNITED RICELAND PVT. LTD 18001803131

184 Sr.Area Manager(IOCL) 18001803133

185 Supdt. Post Office Kurukshetra Division 18001801155

186 Director NDRI O/o ATIC Center Karnal 18001801199

187 The Administrative Officer CSSRI 18001801014

188 Dulichand Narender kumar exports pvt ltd 18001801772

189 M/S Panesar Engg Co 18001801008

190 Haryana College of Technology &Management 18001801024

191 M/S Dunar herbs &Drinks pvt Ltd. 18001802772

FARIDABAD

S. No. NAME & ADDRESS FPH

192 M/s Escorts Ltd. 18001800081

193 Arogya Dham organisation 18001801023

194 INATIVE NETWORKS PVT. LTD 18001801152

195 tirupati industries chemicals pvt. Ltd 18001801411

196 Escorts Ltd Escorts Ltd 18001801444

197 L. R. FOODS PVT. LTD 18001801552

198 M/S V. Connect 18001801555

199 The ADC OFFICE 18001801558

200 Metafab Engineers India Pvt Ltd 18001801571

201 shine metal udyog pvt Ltd 18001801715

202 SAS MOTORS LTD 18001801854

203 ESCORTS CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT LTD 18001801890

204 Additional Deputy Commissioner Office 18001801922

205 M/S CLUTCH AUTO LTD 18001802565

206 M/s M. K. Peacock Mineral Water Pvt. Ltd 18001807777

ANCIENT INDIA AND SCIENCE

• As per Rig Veda Kaliyug started in 3120 BC with the start of the Mahabharata war.

• Shape of Earth and India   As per Hindu mythology, the cosmos was shaped like a flat dish, the centre of which was Meru Parvat. Around Meru Parvet , the sun, the earth and moon rotated. There were four independent continents around this peak , one of them was Jambu Dweep (Jambu = Rose and Dweep = Island) where humans stayed. The southern part of this land which was beyond the Himalayas was called Aryavarte & Bhatatkhande or the land of the Aryans and sons of Bharat.
• Manu had two children, Ila the daughter and Iksavaku the son. The Chandravanshi and Suryavanshi trace their lineage to these two.

The Indian Calendar.

• The Indian calendar is of 29.5 days. the month sis divided into two halves called Paksha of 15 Thithees (Lunar days) each. The first half beginning with full moon and was called Purnimavasya and the second half beginning with new moon was called Amavashya or Bahaulvashya. The fortnight beginning with the new moon was called Shuklpaksha and the dark half is called Krishnapaksha. The calandar normally consists of 12 lunar months. This makes only 354 days, thus to cater for the difference with a solar year, a thirteenth month was added to the calendar after each 30 lunar months. This leap month was called Dvitiya Asadha or DvitiyaSravanna. It was added after asadha or sravanna month. Thus each second or third year had thirteen months.

• Indian Months These are Chaitra (March - April), Vaishakh (April - May), Jyaistha (May - June), Ashadh (June - July), Sharavan (July - August), Bhadrapada or Parusthapada (August - September), Ashivan or Asvayuja (September - October), Kartikka (October - November), Margasirsha or Agrahayana (November - December), Pausa or Taisa (December - January), Magha (January-February), and Phalgun (February - March). However during Vedic times the months were called Madhu, Madhava, Shukra, Suchi, Nabhas, Nabhasya, Isa, Urja, Sahas, Tapas and Tapashya.

• Indian Seasons A group of two months was called Ritu. The six seasons were Vasantha ( Spring, March - May), Grishma (Summers, May - July), Varsha (Rains, July - September), Sarad (Autumn, September - November), Hemantha (Winters, November - January),and Sishir (Cool season, january - March.)

• Indian Dates Indian dates are normally given in the order of month, paksha and tithi and the abbreviation sudi or badi is used for the bright or dark halves of the month e.g. Chaitra sudi7 means , seventh day from the new moon of the month of Chaitra .
• The various Era's followed by Indians are :-
• Vikramaditya Era - this started in 58BC. It was started by Emperor Vikramaditya to celebrate his victory over the Sakas and driving them out of Ujjain.
• Sakas Era - This was started by a Saka King on his return to Ujjain in 78AD.
• Gupta Era - started by Emperor Chandra Gupta in 320 AD.
• Harsh era - Started by Raja Harshavardhana of Kannauj in 606 AD.
• Kalachuri Era - Started in 248 AD by a small dynasty of Central India called Traikutaka.
• Lakshmana Era - Started in Bengal in 1119 AD.
• Lichivi and Nevar Era of Nepal started in 110 Ad and 878 AD respectively.
• Kollam Era of Malabar Started in 825 AD.
• Buddha Era started in 544 BC.
• Mahavir Era started in 528 BC.
• Off all the above, the Saka and Vikrama are the most widely used eras.
• Weights, Measures and Distances The various measurements given in the Manu Smriti and still in use in some of the remote villages and areas of India are:-

• Goldsmith weights - 5 ratti = 1 massa,16 massa = 1 tola, 4 tola = 1 pala, 10 palas = 1 dharna.

• Length
• 8 Yava (barley corn) = 1 angul (one fingers breadth = 3.4 inch).
• 12 Anguls = 1 vitasti (span of fingers = 9 inches.)
• 2 Vitasti = 1 Hasta(hand) 18 inches.
• 4 Hastha = 1 danda or dhanu 6 feet.
• 2000 dandas = 1 kosh or goruta 2 1/2 miles.
• 4 kosh = 1 yojana 9 miles.
• Time
• 18 Nimesas (wink) = 1 Kastha (3 1/2 secs.)
• 30 Kastha = 1 Kala (1 3/5 minutes).
• 15 kalas = 1 Nadika or Nalika (24 Minutes.)
• 30 Kalas or 2 Nadikas - 1 Muhurata or Kasna (48 Minutes.)
• 30 Muhuratas = 1 aho-ratri (1 day and night = 24 hours.)

• Cosmology and Cosmic Time According to scriptures cosmos passes through cycles of time within cycles of time for all eternity over an enormous period of time called Mahakalpa. During the cosmos evolves and declines and again evolves only to decline once again. This cycle is divided into four periods Ashankyeya .

• The basic cycle is called Kalpa i.e ' Day of Brahma' which is equal to 4320 million earthly years. His night is equal to the day, 360 such day and night of Brahma is equal to "One year of Brahma". The life of each Brahma is 100 such years, thus as per the Hindu's the life of the universe is 311,040,000 million years. After this another great Brahma takes birth.
• In each cosmic day or Kalpa the Brahma creates the Universe and gathers it in his lap at night.
• Each Kalpa has 14 Manvantras or secondary cycles of 306,720,000 earth years.
• In each of this secondary cycles one new Manu appears.
• We are now in the 7th Manavantra of the Kalpa. The present Manu is called Vaivasvata.
• Each Manvantra contains 71 Mahayugs (1000 Mahayugs make one Kalpa.)
• Each Mahayug has four yugs called Karta, Treta, Dwapar and Kalyug. The duration of each of these is 4800, 3600, 2400 and 1200 years of GOD (each year of God = 360 human years.)
• We are in the Kalyug which started in 3120 BC i.e when the Mahabharat war started. the Kalyug will finish in 428898 AD (A very long way off, so do not worry about the Mayan Calender about the earth Coming to an end in 2012 AD)

• The Planets and Stars As per Rig Veda, the heaven was divided into 27 Nakshatras based on the position of moon. The full cycle of moon was divided into 27 1/2 days and later this was corrected by adding another nakshatra. The 28 Nakshatras were Ashwini, Bharani, Krattka, Rohini, Mragasiras, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pusya, Asleesa, Magha, Purva-Phalguni, Uttara-Phalguni, Hastha, Chitra, Swati, Vishaka, Annuradha, Jyestha, Maula, Purvasadha, Uttarasadha, abhijeet, Sharvana, Dhanishta or Sravistha, satabishaj, Purva-bhadrapadda and Uttara- Bhadrapadda.
• The seven planets which could be seen by naked eyes were named Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Budha (Mercury),Shukra (Venus), Mangal (Mars), Brahspati (Jupitar), and Shani (Saturn). later two more planets which though could not be seen by the naked eyes . These were Rahu and Ketu. So way back , before the invention of the telescope, our astronom,ers had said that there were nine planets.

  KINGS As per Vedas there are five types of Kings. These are :

• Raja - An ordinary King
• Maharaja - A great King
• Rajadhiraj - King of Kings
• Maharajadhiraj - Great king of kings.
• Chakravartiraja - Universal Emperor

 

ANCIENT INDIA : RELIGION AND VARIOUS SANSKARS

         

    Isn't it  sad that how little we know of ancient India, our culture, heritage, achievements of our ancestors, genesis of our beliefs, and such like things. Unlike other religions of the world, we do not have the tradition of religion being spread like the 'Gospel'. Indians mostly believe that religion is a private affair and hence all must strive to learn it through their individual efforts. I remember when we were young, our grandparents used to tell us various aspects of our ancient scriptures, religious beliefs and other such things. Now, off course all this is a thing of past the parents or grand parents do not time to teach the children or grand children nor the children have the time or patience to listen to such "sermons". I am however sure that the youngster of today wants to know about ancient India. Googling is one such popular option which most children exercise.  I have made an attempt to collect and collate certain interesting details / aspects which I feel you would interest you. The details are in random order.

 Ancient India When Aryans first came to India, they called the land "ARYAVARTA", the land of the Aryans. The first king of India was Bharata, however some ancient scriptures state that Manu was the first king of Aryans.

 Type of Holy Books There are two types of religious books. One is called 'SMRITI'. It means a book which is passed down orally from one generation to another e.g. RIG VEDA and MANU SMRITI. The second type of book is called 'SHRUTI'. It means a holy book which was written down as soon the contents were revealed or dictated e.g. 'ARTHASHASTRA.' if you are interested in reading the Puranas in English, please log here....Puranas

 Rig Veda These are the oldest vedas and were composed around 2000 BC. These remained in oral form and were passed from one generation to another orally for nearly 1000 years and were put to writing around 1000 BC only.

 Vedas The Vedas (from VID or knowledge) are the most ancient surviving books of the human race. They represent the first outpourings of the human mind. They remain unique after all these centuries.There are four types of Vedas. Rig Veda is the oldest and has 10 mandalas (books), 1028 suktas (hymns or chapters) and 10,589 mantras (verses). It contains perfect knowledge which the sages wrote after life-long penance e.g. knowledge of science, matter of the universe like sun, moon, air body etc It is the Veda of knowledge of all subjects under the sun. Next comes the Yajurveda, meaning the scripture for yajnas or sacrifices. Most of its 1575 hymns are taken from the Rigveda; only 75 are original.Yajurveda gives knowledge of all the deeds and duties to be performed by men or women, students, leaders, king, agriculturist etc. The third, the Sama Veda, is the grand pioneering source of all systems of music and art. It also gives knowledge how to worship God, details of Yoga philosophy, qualities, supreme deeds and nature of the God is also given.Most of its 1875 stanzas are incorporated from the Rigveda. Only 75 verses are original.The last one, the Atharva Veda, got its name from seer Atharvan. It has 731 hymns, comprising 5,977 verses. About one-fifth are drawn from the Rigveda.One hymn of the Rigveda refers only to three Vedas. The Atharva Veda is therefore not recognised by some as a Veda. It contains magic, charms and description of thousands of herbs to cure diseases.

Upanishads Among the Hindu Scriptures, the Vedas hold the pre-eminent place. The Upanishads which are culled from the Aranyaka portions of the Vedas so-called because they were read in the Aranya (forest) after the learner had given up the life of the world are regarded as the Vedanta, or the end or final crown of the Vedas. There are in all 108 upanisads. The important ones are :-

• BRHADARANYAKA. This book mentions the doctorine of trans migration of soul. The concept of 'KARMA ' is also given in this book.
• CHANDAGYA.
• KATHA.
• ISA.
• SVETASVATARA.

  Gotras This term was first used in the book 'Atharva Veda'. It means 'a heard of cows', later it was used for clan. It was initially used by Brahmins and was later adopted by Kshytrias and Vasiyas. There were initially only seven gotras.These were Kasyap, Vasista, Bhrigu, Gautama, Bharadvaja, Atri and Agastasya. Later however others like Vishvamitra, Angrish and so on were added. 

SACRIFICES Animal Sacrifice formed an important part of Aryan religious rituals. Details of all such types of sacrifices which are to be done at home are given in"GRYHA SUTRAS." The main purpose was to provide gratification to GOD so that HE in turn helps them. Out of all the Gods Aryans worshiped, VARUN and RUDRA were considered of unpredictable nature, all the rest were considered good natured.

 Marriages As per vedas there are eight types of marriages. These are given in succeeding paras.

• Brahma Marriage

Once a boy completed his Brahmacharya (studenthood), his parents approached the parents of a girl belonging to a good family and ask them to give their daughter in marriage to their son. A marriage arranged in this manner is Brahma. In this the girl's family does not give any dowry in any form to the boy's family. There is no "commercial transaction" and the goal of a brahma marriage is the dharmic advancement of two families. Of the eight forms of marriage the dharma sastras regard this as the highest. The Brahma marriage sanctifies 21 generation i.e. a son born of such an union was said to rescue from hell, twenty-one generations of his ancestors on paternal and maternal side. This type of marriage is still prevalent amongst the Brahmins of Kumaon.

• Daiva Marriage

After waiting a reasonable period for a young man to turn up and ask for their daughter's hand. The parents of the girl, marry their daughter to a priest during a sacrifice is called daiva. This type of marriage is considered inferior to brahma. In the sastras womanhood is elevated in that it is the groom's family that has to seeking bride for their son. The Daiva sanctifies 14 generations i.e. a son born of a daivya marriage is said to rescue from hell fourteen generations of his ancestors on both his paternal & maternal side.

• Arsha Marriage

The third form, "arsha" suggests that it is concerned with the rishis, sages. In arsha the bride is given in exchange for two cows received from the groom. If the term is taken to mean "giving away a girl in marriage to a rishi", we must take it that the girl is married off to an old sage because the parents could not celebrate her marriage according to the brahma rite at the right time. The fact that cows are taken in exchange for the bride shows that the groom does not possess any remarkable qualities. According to the sastras, in marriages of noble kind there is no place for money or anything smacking of a business transaction. Compared to the previous two forms of marriage, a son born to such a marriage rescues a mere six generations of his ancestors from hell.

• Prajapatya Marriage

In prajapatya there is no trading and kanyadana is a part of it as in the brahma ceremony. The brahma type is a better type of marriage than prajapatya since, in that type of marriage the groom's parents go seeking a bride who is to be the Grahalaksmi of their household. Six generations is all that are rescued from a son born of a prajapatya marriage as well.

• Gandharva Marriage

Bridegroom and bride marry secretly, without the knowledge of their parents. This was considered inferior, because it was the result of lustful impulses. Sakuntala and Dusyanta got married in this way.The gandharva type is the "love marriage" which again has very enthusiastic support these days.

• Asura Marriage

In the asura type the groom is in no way a match for the girl but the bridegroom voluntarily gave lot of wealth to the bride's relatives as ‘bride money’. This was not in accordance with the injunctions of the scriptures because it was like buying the bride, which was prohibited in the scriptures.

• Rakshasa Marriage

In the raksasa form the groom battles with the girl's family, overcomes them takes their daughter away and then persuades her to marry. This was considered inferior. It was in this manner that Paramatman married Rukmini.

• Paishacha Marriage

The eighth and last is paishacha. In paishacha the girl's wish do not count, nor is any money or material given to her parents. Men would marry a woman, whom he had seduced while she was asleep, intoxicated or insane or is taken against her wish and her family antagonized. This was prohibited later.

 Sanskars There are fourty religious ceremonies which all hindus have to under go / perform in their life time, right from the time one is conceived, to the time which one dies. Most of these have been given in the Manu Smriti. However the 16 important ones ( also called Ṣoḍaśa Saṃskāra) which a Hindu  is required to perform are given below:-

•  Garbhadan : We all know life is conceived in the  mother’s womb. We all pray our children to be born healthy and lead a happy disease free life.  As per Ancient Indian Astrology  a baby which is conceived at an auspicious muhurat  will be a good and responsible human being. According to astrological principles the ideal time to get Garbhadan sanskar (pregnant) is the 4th and 16th lunar days after menstruation. Besides these lunar days, the 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 14th, Full Moon and New Moon days are also favorable for Garbhadan Sanskar.
•  Pumsavana   It literally means engendering a male issue. It is a ritual conducted in the third month of pregnancy. If it is the first pregnancy, it can be in the fourth month also. The pregnant woman consumes one bead of barley and two beads of black grain, along with a little curd. This is accompanied by chanting of slokas.
•  Jatakarma  This is ceremony conducted immediately after birth, in which the newborn`s tongue is touched thrice with ghee and approproate slokas are recited. Jata literally means `being brought into existence`. Karma means `action, special duty` and also refers to any religious rite. Jatakarma sanskara performed immediately after the birth of a child, even before the umbilical cord is severed.
•  Namararan Most of us are familiar with this ceremony. It is performed to name the child on the 12th day after birth.
•  Nishkramana   It is taking the child outside the house for the first time. The child is usually taken out into the open only in the fourth month after birth.
•  Annaprashana This ritual takes place when a child is six months old. This is the first time the child eats solid food, normally it is  a few grains of rice mixed with ghee.
•  Chudakarana  It is also known as choulam or mundana (tonsuring) is the ceremony of cutting child's hair for first time. In the child's third or fifth year, or any odd year the head is shaved, leaving behind a small tuft of hair.
•  Upanayana   It is the ceremony where a child is initiated as a full member as an adult by having his Yajñopaveetam. When Brahmins male child is done when he is eight years, kshytria, for vaishya it is 12 years. This is the day when the child is told about the gayatri mantra, a hymn from Rig Ved.
• Brahmachyara  This is the ceremony where  a child leaves his house for the Gurukul for studies.The ideal duration of studies was 12 years, though a student could leave the Gurukul after he had mastered one Ved only.
• Snataka  It was also called Snana, because bathing formed the most prominent item of the samskara. According to some anthropologists, bathing was meant for washing away divinity from the student. During his brahmacharya period he was living in divine contact and he himself had some divine halo round him. So, before he returned to the ordinary world, he had to put off divine influence, otherwise he would pollute divine attributes and thereby incur divine displeasure.  A student, who had completed his  studies, was regarded as a person who had crossed the ocean of learning. He was called a Vidyasnataka (one who has bathed in learning) and a Vratasnataka (one who has bathed in vows). Thus the ceremonial bath at the end of the student career symbolized the crossing of the ocean of learning by the student.
  . Samavartana or Home Coming Ceremony This sanskara was performed at the close of the brahmacharya period and it marked the termination of the student life. It was performed when a boy returned in his late teens after snataka from Gurukul .

• Grihastha Ashram The Ritual of marriage as per vedic rights.

• Vanaprastha   This  ceremony is done when a person gets old and leaves for the jungle (Van). he goes to live in the in a jungle as a hermit, with as little material possessions as possible. This stage denotes a transition phase from material to spiritual life. 

•  Sanyas  It is is traditionally taken by men or women over fifty or by young monks who wish to renounce worldly and materialistic pursuits and dedicate their lives to spiritual pursuits.
• Antyeshti  It is  sometimes referred to as Antim Sanskar,and is  the ritual associated with funeral.  The reason for leaving this rite out of other sanskars is that it is not considered as a pure and an auspicious rite, and it should therefore not be mentioned along with the other, pure, samskaras.
• Pind Daan  This is the offering of Pind or Rice Balls for 10 days after death. 
• Shradh Ceremony  This is performed each year. Shradh means to give with devotion or to offer one’s respect. Shraadh is a ritual for expressing one’s respectful feelings for the ancestors. According to Indian texts a soul has to wander about in the various worlds after death and has to suffer a lot due to past karmas. Shraadh is a means of alleviating this suffering.

Important Subjects studied in the Gurukul were:-

• Vedas. RIG VED, SHAM VED, YAJUR VED,  AND OTHER VED.
• Vedangas (Branchas of Vedas).

            Kalpa    - Performance of Sacrifices.

            Siksha   - Correct pronounation.

            Chandas- paragraphs from poetry and prose.

            Nikuta   - Interpretation of obscure words in Vedas.

            Vyakaran  - Grammer.

             Jyotish   - Astrology.

   
Rig Veda: The Book of Mantra is the oldest and has 1028 hymns. The Rig Veda accounts in detail the social, religious, political and economic background of the Rig-Vedic civilization. It was written around 2000 BC.

 Sham Veda: The Book of Songs  It is the next oldest. The Sham Veda is purely a liturgical collection of melodies (‘saman’). The hymns in the Sama Veda, used as musical notes, were almost completely drawn from the Rig Veda and have no distinctive lessons of their own. Hence, its text is a reduced version of the Rig Veda. As Vedic Scholars  put it, if the Rig Veda is the word, Sama Veda is the song or the meaning and if Rig Veda is the knowledge, Sama Veda is its realization.

Yajur Veda: The Book of Rituals These contain sacrificial formulas and instructions for priests to follow. It practically served as a guidebook for the priests.  There are no less than six complete recessions of Yajur Veda - Madyandina, Kanva, Taittiriya, Kathaka, Maitrayani and Kapishthala.

 Atharva Veda: The Book of Spell  The last of the Vedas, this is completely different from the other three Vedas and is next in importance to Rig-Veda with regard to history and sociology. Its hymns are of a more diverse character than the Rig Veda and are also simpler in language. They also contain magic spells. In fact, many scholars do not consider it part of the Vedas at all. The Atharva Veda consists of spells and charms prevalent at its time, and portrays a clearer picture of the Vedic society.

The Upanishads The Upanishads form the core of Indian philosophy. These were composed between 800 to 400 BC. They are an amazing collection of writings from original oral transmissions, which have been aptly described by Shri Aurobindo as "the supreme work of the Indian mind". It is here that we find all the fundamental teachings that are central to Hinduism — the concepts of 'karma' (action), 'samsara' (reincarnation), 'moksha' (nirvana), the 'atman' (soul), and the 'Brahman' (Absolute Almighty). They also set forth the prime Vedic doctrines of self-realization, yoga and meditation. Although there are more than 200 Upanishads, only thirteen have been identified out as presenting the core teachings. They are the Chandogya, Kena, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Katha, Mundaka, Taittriyaka, Brihadaranyaka, Svetasvatara, Isa, Prasna, Mandukya and the Maitri Upanishads. The authors of the Upanishads were many, but they were not solely from the priestly caste. They were poets prone to flashes of spiritual wisdom, and their aim was to guide a few chosen pupils to the point of liberation, which they themselves had attained. According to some scholars, the main figure in the Upanishads is Yajnavalkya, the great sage who propounded the doctrine of 'neti-neti', the view that "truth can be found only through the negation of all thoughts about it". Other important Upanishadic sages are Uddalaka Aruni, Shwetaketu, Shandilya, Aitareya, Pippalada, Sanat Kumara.