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## The Five Types of Anushthana (Ritual)
**(383) 6. Service to the Knowledgeable:** Service to a knowledgeable person, one who has true knowledge, is also a sign of good ritual. A true seeker, one who thirsts for truth and desires to quench that thirst, seeks out such a knowledgeable person. They sincerely and humbly approach them, seeking to satisfy their own curiosity. This is service to the knowledgeable, offering reverence at their feet, sitting close to them (Upanishada). Through this, they receive the knowledge that is the essence of Upanishada. Therefore, serving a knowledgeable person is a sign of good ritual.
"Serve the feet of the wise, abandoning your own self-interest.
You will attain the ultimate goal, and your own path will be clear." - Shrimad Rajchandraji
**(7. Grace of the Knowledgeable):** The grace and favor of a knowledgeable person is also a sign of good ritual. By serving them, they become pleased and bestow their grace. Although knowledgeable people do not desire such service, it benefits the seeker. Therefore, offering such service is in their best interest. Thus, the grace of the knowledgeable person satisfies the seeker's curiosity, and their benevolent gaze brings about the fulfillment of all the soul's desires. This is a sign of good ritual.
"Respect and devotion are abundant, obstacles are overcome, and prosperity is gained.
The seeker's service to the wise is a sign of good deeds and a mark of excellence." - Man - A. 6. S. 4-17
The reason this is called "Sadanushthana" (good ritual) is because it is based on good consequences. It is driven by good consequences, leading to a continuous chain of good consequences and an increasing amount of good karma.
Here, to understand the nature of Sadanushthana, it is important to understand the types of Anushthana. Because the same Anushthana can be different depending on the intention, just as the same food can have different effects on a sick person and a healthy person. For a sick person, certain foods can worsen their condition, while for a healthy person, the same foods can strengthen them. Similarly, Anushthana can be categorized into five types: (1) Poison, (2) Gar, (3) Ananushthana, (4) Taddhatu, (5) Amrit. These distinctions arise from the expectations and rules surrounding rituals like the worship of the Guru.
**(1) Poison Anushthana:** This is the type of Anushthana performed with the expectation of gaining worldly things like wealth and fame. It is called poison because it kills the true self and leads to the pursuit of lesser things, neglecting the true purpose of Anushthana.
**(2) Gar Anushthana:** This is the type of Anushthana performed with the desire for heavenly pleasures. It is called Gar because, as mentioned earlier, it leads to the pursuit of lesser things.