Gauḍīya Siddhānta

Karma yoga & Jñāna Yoga Karma-yoga is full of activities— nitya-karmas (daily obligatory duties) and naimittika-karmas (periodical obligatory duties). These differ according to a person’s varṇa ( brāhmaṇa , kṣatriya , vaiśya , and śūdra ) and āśrama ( brahmacārī , gṛhastha , vānaprastha , and sannyāsī ). Nitya-karmas include, for example, for the upper three varṇas ( brāhmaṇa , kṣatriya , and vaiśya ), performing sandhyā-vandana , pañca-mahā-yajña , and other daily rituals. Naimittika-karmas include duties performed periodically, such as the śrāddha ceremony. Along with these, a person—if he is a gṛhastha —also performs his occupation (see Srīmad-bhāgavatam 7.11.14 onwards) according to his varṇa . The person should offer all these activities to the Lord at the end of each day and continue to worship the Lord daily. The details of these duties are described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, especially in the last five chapters of the Seventh Canto. When performing these activities, on...