In essence, humans share with animals the basic needs of food, sleep, fear, and procreation. However, what distinguishes humans is their adherence to righteousness (dharma). Without righteousness, humans are no different from animals. Therefore, humans need to uphold righteousness. Along with upholding righteousness, various daily and occasional rituals, as well as Vedic sacraments, must be performed. Without these rituals, humans are akin to animals. Furthermore, the elements such as air, water, sunlight, etc., provided by nature free of cost, are utilized by humans under the supervision of the divine, through the agency of various deities.
As stated by the Lord in the Gita, “Under My direction, nature is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule, this manifestation is created and destroyed again and again.” Therefore, to fulfill the various necessities of life, humans have been granted the right to perform rituals by the deities, who in return expect offerings. If one consumes the offerings without making offerings to the deities, it is akin to theft. Therefore, to ensure a life filled with the satisfaction of all necessary needs, humans must perform various rituals from time to time; otherwise,
they risk being viewed as thieves by the deities. It is essential to express gratitude to the deities by making offerings, as they provide various resources such as air, water, rain, sunlight, mountains, forests, rivers, etc. If these resources were to be taxed by the deities, who knows what the consequences would be? It might not even be possible. Therefore, by utilizing these resources freely, we acknowledge our gratitude to the beneficent deities and must perform rituals periodically; otherwise, we risk being perceived as thieves, not only in this life but also in the afterlife, where we might endure various forms of hellish torment. Rituals qualify us for blessings, while other divine activities bestow prosperity. As a result, our lives become joyful. Otherwise, if the deities become displeased, we may suffer from various physical, divine, and spiritual afflictions. Therefore, to lead a happy and prosperous life for ourselves and our families and to mitigate numerous faults, we must perform rituals.
