Sanskaars (Sacraments)
Garbhadhaan Punsavanam Seemanto
jaatkarm cha, Naamkiiyaa Nishkramane annaashanam wapanakriyaa Karnavedho Brataadesho
Vedaarambhakriyaavidhih Keshaantam snaanmuddaho Vivaahagniparigrahah Tretaagnishangrahacheti
Sanskaaraa Shodasha smritaah
1. Grabhaadhan: Conception
2. Punsavana: Fetus protection
3. Simanta: Satisfying wishes of the pregnant Mother
4. Jaat-Karmaa: Child Birth
5. Naamkarma: Naming Child
6. Nishkramana: Taking the child outdoors
7. Annaprashana: Giving the child solid food.
8. Mundan or Choula: Hair cutting.
9. Karnavedh: Ear piercing
10. Yagyopaveet: Sacred thread
11. Vedarambh: Study of Vedas and Scriptures
12. Samaavartana: Completing education
13. Vivaah: Marriage
14. Sarvasanskaar: Preparing for Renouncing
15. Sanyas (Awasthadhyan): Renouncing
16. Antyeshti: Last rite, or funeral rites
1. Garbhaadhan
(Conception) To produce
a good child, its mother and father should have pure thoughts and observe the rules
of Shastras. God characterizing parents are necessary for bringing up a good child
in the world.
2. Punsavana
Brahaspati says that the
rite should be performed before the baby begins to grow and move in the womb. The
word Punsvana occurs in Atharvaveda, where it is used in the literal sense of "giving
birth to a male child:. The word "male means soul. The Punsavana is used for welcoming
the great sould. This is also called "Garbharakshan". Garbharakshana is performed
to assure that the infant is not miscarried.
3. Simanta
This ceremony should be
performed in the fourht month of pregnancy, in the fortnight of waxing moon, when
the moon is in conjunction with a Nakshatra that is regarded as "male" or auspicious.
A Puja is performed for purification of the atmosphere and as an offering to God
for the peace of mother and infant, for giving birth to a peaceful and holy child.
This rite is primarily social and festival in nature, intended to keep the pregnant
woman in good spirits. The pregnant woman gets gifts of rice and fruits from seven
ladies. Kumkum is applied on her cheek to keep her happy so that the child will
be affected by her happiness.
At the time of pregnancy,
due to harmonic fluctuation / changes, a woman has to go through the discomfort
stage of life, which may cause emotional imbalance. She should have patience and
try to increase her power of moral understanding. She will have a child reflecting
the same kind of thoughts she had during pregnancy. After becoming a mother, she
is responsible for assuring that her child will be mentally and physically healthy
and vigorous. Ashtabakra and Abhinamy heard stories about truth from their father
when they were in the womb of mother.
A future mother should have
good thoughts at all times. She should place Picture of 'Balgopal' or 'Laddu Gopal'
in her home. She should read the Gita and other scruptures in addition to performing
her daily work and should avoid thrilling books and movies.
During Solar and lunar eclipses,
a woman should not use any kind of weapons. During normal times, she should avoid
violent thoughts. Her husband should help keep her peaceful and cheerful.
4. Jaat-Karm
Jaat-karma performed on
six or after 11 days from the birth of a child, is for the purification of the house.
This is done in order to keep a child in a clean atmosphere where he may not incur
any physical or mental problems. It is also called Shashthi. Goddess Shashthi is
the protector of children. Jaat-karma is followed with Grah Puja, Homa.
5. Naamkarn
(Naming) Soemtime Jaatkarma
and Naamkarma are performed together. This ceremonyu is performed to give a sacred
name to the child, assigned according to the 212 divisions of 27 Nakshatra and the
position of the moon at the time of child's birth. An appropriate name is given
to the child according to the star of birth, and the first letter of the name is
taken from the Hora Shatra.
6. Nishkraman
(Taking the child out of
the house) This ceremony is performed on or after 40 days, but some scruptures allow
it at the time of naming ceremony. The child must be blessed with the holy water
and Surya Darshan, with the prayer, "salutation to you, Oh divine Sun, who has hundreds
of rays and who dispels darkness, may you bring the brightness in the life of the
child".
7. Annaprashana
(Making a child eat cooked
food for the first time) Most of the Smrities prescribe it the sixth month from
birth, when the child first develops teeth. Anna is considered as one of the main
reasons to make a person commence the good or bad things. The body is made of chemicals,
therfor, the kinds of chemical, we put in our bodies will bring out their effect.
Sweet porridge or rice pudding can be given to the chiled if parents are desirous
of nourishment, holy luster, swiftness, or splendor. One of them with curd, honey
and ghee is given it to the child while reciting Prasad Mantras.
8. Mundan or Choul
Also known as 'Mundan'.
The first time cutting of hair on the child's head. Chura means the lock of tuft
of hair, kept on the head when the remaining part is shaved (i.e. the Shikha). The
ceremony is to be performed on an auspicious day after the age of one year. This
ceremony is performed for the development of power better understanding, and for
long life. The hair must be disposed of at holy places where no one can find the.
9. Karnavedh
(Piercing the child's ear
lobes). With the commencement of Surya Puja; the father should first address the
right ear of the child with the mantra "Oh God may we hear bliss with our ears",
performed so that child may listen to good things and to have a good education.
10. Yagyopaveet (Sacred
Thread)
The sacred thread ceremony
is very significant in the life of a Hindu man. This ceremony initiates the child
into an intellectual and spiritual journey. The mother gives birth to the child;
this is natural birth. However, when the Guru initiates him by giving Gayatri mantra,
this prayer for Buddhi is considered a second birth of the child. tHis ceremony
is known also as Upnayan, 'the sacred vision' or 'new vision', the vision to se
things in a proper way and to know 'wrong' and 'right'. Therefore, Upnayan is essential
to handle household life.
'Yagyopaveet' (sacred thread)
indicates that the child is qualified to perform all the traditional Vedic rites
including Pitra Kriya and Tarpan for his forefathers.
Yagyopaveet symbolizes three
formes of one supreme being, Satoguna Brahma (the creator), Rajoguna Vishnu (the
sustained) and Rajoguna Shiva (the destroyer). The knot is called Brahma-Knot, the
Lord who controls these three faces of nature. It also symbolizes the three duties
for three debts.
(i) Pitra: Debt of
parents and ancestors,
(ii) Manushya: Debt of society and humanity,
(iii) Dev: Debt of Nature and God. The twist in the thread symbolizes strength
and honesty.
Gayatri Mantra is given
to the child who promises to lead a good human life as per the rules of Dharmashastra.
O! God Fiver of birth and
life, the dispeller of ignorance, and bestower of light, we meditate upon thee.
O creator of ours! The most worthy and acceptable almighty, nay you inspire and
lead our mind and intellect.
Gayatri Mantra is simple
prayer to the Sun God to brighten the intellect. The sun represents the creator
of the Earth, God. Just as we bathe our body to keep clean every day, so must we
bathe our mind with the Gayatri prayer, to keep our mind ever pure, ever inspired.
Gayatri Mantra is so powerful that it can destory all negative forces.
The ceremony has six
parts: -
Puja: worshipping
the Gods,
Havan: sacrifice,
Shiksha: teaching
the morality and duties in life,
Bhiksha: begging
as a renounced Brahmchari of Gurukula. Teacher's teaching has made him renounced
minded that he has accepted a life of Vairagee,
Diksha: giving
the most sacred Gayatri Mantra to the child, and
Blessings: child
is bless by all Gods, Goddesses, ancestors, and elders
11. Vidhyaarambha
(Commencement of learning
of the alphabet) On the third or fifth year, when Choula is performed, this important
ceremony can take place. the Brahman or teacher should start teaching the first
lesson after worshipping Saraswati, the Goddess of learning.
12. Samavartan
(Taking the ceremonial bath
after finishing Vedic study and returning from the teacher's house) After learning
the rules of life he returns home from his Teacher's Ashram. When he completes his
education about and religion the law of life, his first Ashram Brahmacharya is complete.
He is now eligible to enter into the householder stage, and considered a qualified
man to get married.
13. Vivah (the marriage)
Vedic Hindu marriage is
viewed as sacramental, which is a lifelong commitment of one wife and one husband.
It is the strongest bond between a man and a woman, which takes place in the presence
of their parents, relatives, and friends. This an errevocable commitment for a lifetime.
For a Hindu, marriage is
the only way to continue the family, and thereby repay, his debt to his ancestors.
The most important thing is that all the Hindu God and Goddesses are also united
in this. Marriage is for spiritual growth and a way of learning many things in life
through experiece. In other words, it is a perfect way of following the holy law
of the Creator. There are eight ways of getting married. They are:
1. Brahmaa: Kanyadan
performed by holy parents
2. Daiva: Kanyadan by God-fearing parents
3. Aarsha: Kanyadan by parents with five other gifts
4. Prajaapatya: Kanyadan by honor and respect
5. Asur: Love Marriage
6. Gandharv: Marrying for money
7. Raakshas: Forceful abduction of a maiden.
8. Paishaach: Intercourse in asleep, intoxicated situation
Steps to follow for the
ceremony: -
Vaag-daan, Tilak &
Sagun (Engagement): It is a commitment by the bride's parents to complete the
marriage of a future date acceptance by the parents of bridegroom.
Ganesh, Navagrah Puja
and 'Chura' Sait or Shantipath: Lord Ganesh is worshipped for success of the
ceremony. Chura is given by the brides' maternal uncle Mama as a blessing and well
wishing for her married life. Offering Chunni to the bride to signify that from
this time onwards she is the breater of the respect fo the groom's family.
Sehra and Badhu Grahaagaman:
Groom's dressing with Sehra and Garland and proceeding to the bride's house.
Milani: A warm welcome
and greeting of the groom's parents by bride's parents and other close family members
with garlands and gifts mostly cash. Aarati offered to the groom.
Jaimala: Formal acceptance
of each other by bride and bridegroom with garlands.
Madhupark: Reception
of bridegroom by bride's father with yogurt and honey.
Sarva Dev Poojan:
Lord Ganesh, nine planets, sixteen Matrikas, sixty-four Yoginies, seven ghee Matrikas
are Varuna, Main Kalash, Sun and Kula Devatas are invited and worshipped. In their
presence Kanyadan is performed.
Kanyadan: (giving
away of dauther)
Paanigrahan: (Taking
the hand of the bride) Seven sentences are pronounced by both.
Gathbandhan: (Sacred
Union of two souls)
Aashirvaad: (Blessings)
Homa and Laja Hom:
(Baked rice grains into the fire) Establishing the fire and offering of Samagri
into the fire. In the first four rounds graings are offered in the fire by the bride
and bridegroom which are given to her by her brother. That signifies that she is
leaing her family to join husband's family.
Parikrama: Mostly
when all the rituals i.e. Ashmarohan (Shilarohan), feras, gathagan and Saptpadi
are performed together they take seven rounds around the fire. If all of these are
performed separately they take the only four rounds. First four rounds are dedicated
for four aims of life i.e. Dharma (righteiousness to follow the rules of religion,
duty, morality and spirituality) Artha (wealth for livelihood, sharing with poor
and misfortuante, to work hard and to earn money with right means) Kaam (love, physical
and mental support and satisfaction, dedication between husband and wife throughout
life Moksha (liberation from this world of suffering by abiding the law of household
life).
Saptpadi (Main part of
the wedding ceremony):
1. In your grief, I shall
fill your heart with courage and strength. In your happiness, I shall rejoice, and
I promise you that I will please you always with sweet words and take care of the
family and children.
2. We promise that we shall
discharge all responsibilities of the household life.
3. You shall be the only
person to whom I shall love and respect as my life partner. I will love you with
single-minded devotion.
4. I will decorate your
life.
5. I will share both in
your joys and sorrows. Your love will make me trust and honor you. I will carry
out your wishes.
6. In all acts of righteousness,
in every form of enjoyment and divine acts, we promise that we shall partcipate.
7. As per God and Holy Scriptures,
I have become yours. Whatever promises we gave, we have spoken in pure mind. We
will be truthful to each other in all things. We will love, respect and honor each
other and our marriage will be forever and ever.
Hridaya Sparsha:
Groom touches the shoulder of bride. Sindur, Mangalsutra, Suhag, symbolizing her
as a married woman and joining of the groom's family.
Blessings: Bride
and bridegroom are blessed and congratulated by all the participants.
Shanti Path:
May there be peace in the
heavely region. May there be peacein the atmosphere. May peace reign on the Earth.
May the water be soothein and plants be the source of peace to all. May all the
enlightened persons bring peace to us. May the Bedas spread peace throughout the
Universe. May all other objects give us peace and may peace even bring peace to
all. May that peace come to us. Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!
14. Sarvasanskar &
15. Sanyas
(Mahavakyaparisampti):
This ceremony is performed
at the age of 50, in osme cases at the age of 60. With the commencement of his ceremony,
a man completes his Grahastha Dharma and enters inot Vanprastha Ashram (forest hermit).
Ganesh Puja havan and Gayatri Yajna is performed. The Priest gives the new uniform
and the rules are explained. Yajaman should agree to follow the rules of Banprastha
life. There are 17 rules for a Vanaprasthi.
1. No attachments with wife
and children.
2. Take bath three times a day and remain peaceful all times.
3. Be satisfied with simplest food.
4. Eat fresh food, which keep mind and body pure.
5. Use cheapest clothing just to cover the body.
6. Accept the heat in summer and cold in winter.
7. Do not do any hair dressing or unreal show.
8. Love in forest or in most simple way.
9. Sleep on a simplest bed or on the floor.
10. Think before consuming the things where from they are, and by which mean they
came.
11. Stay away from violence and the food earned by violent means.
12. Follow the system of sacrifice, Full Moon day fasting, and other montly observance.
13. Become weak by acceptance of hard penance.
14. Weak body should start shaking with hard penance.
15. Always keep the Lord in the mind.
16. To become a Sanyasi one should perform Prajapatya Yajna and the eight kinds
of Shradh before death.
16. ANTYESTI (the
Last Rite):
Sabhaar: Professor G. C.
Asnani
1. By and large, Hindus
adopt "Cremation", i.e. burning at some specified place. Christians bury the body
under belief that on the "Day of Judgement", the dead body will be brought to life
and given judgement whether the person will go to eternal Heaven or to eternal Hell.
2. Hindus believe that the
dead body is like a piece of cloth or dress which has been given up; that dead body
is not going to be revived. There is no particular Day of Judgement: there is no
eternal Heaven and no eternal Hell: Left to itself, the dead body will decompose
and pollute the environment. It has to be disposed of in a manner which has following
ingredients:
(a) Respect.
(b) Hygienic principles of life.
(c) Socially acceptable and beneficial system.
3. Keeping these principles
in view, Hindus give ceremonial bath (cleaning) to the dead body, wrap the body
in clean cloth or dress, put garlands and sprinkle scents and respectfully take
the body to the cremation ground in the company of relatives and friends. Very close
and sensitive relatives who cannot stand the sight of confining the body to flames
do not accompany the body to the cremation ground. On the way, the accompanying
persons chant the slogan: "God is the companion of the departed one. He will take
care of the person".
4. At the cremation ground,
some ceremonies are performed with the help of professional family priests and the
body is respectfully placed on the fire place. Fire is ignited among holy chantings
and prayers, bowing down before fire. Fire is worshipped as a manifestation of God
to whom the body is given as the last offering of the human birth.
5. Those who have been to
the cremation ground are advised to take bath and change their clothes before getting
back to normal work. This is a part of hygiene. In the process of touching the dead
body or being close to it, the person might be tainted by harmful bacteria, etc.
Also, in the cremation ground, we have dead bodies who are afflicted by various
types of diseases or the bodies which have undergone decomposition due to delay
in cremation. Fire and Water are the cleaning and purifying Agents of Nature.
6. Ashes (bones) are respectfully
collected from the cremation place after 3 days and immersed in holy places at suitable
times, with appropriate respect.
7. There are ceremonies
for 12 to 13 days, Garud Puran Path, Sapindi, Pind Dan, Kriya Shiv Puja, Narayan
Bali for the peaceful journey of the departed soul and with chanting of God's Names
and singing of holy songs to create an atmosphere of soft and soothing adjustment
of family members and friends to the new situation with loss of their close relative/friend.
8. There are monthly and
annual ceremonies with memories of respect, affection and prayers for the welfare
of the departed person.
9. Hindus believe that broadly
an individual is composed of:
(a) Soul never gets destroyed: It is immortal. It witnesses birth and death in various
bodies.
(b) Subtle Body accompanies
the Soul, birth after birth, till subtle body gets completely purified and soul
merges into the total Universal Consciousness. This subtle body goes out of the
gross body, in company of the soul at the time of "death". This (soul + subtle body)
takes rebirth of a type depending on the actions of the individual. A person with
good record of actions in the past takes birth in a beautiful, healthy human body,
in the family of pious and prosperous persons. A person with record of evil and
cruel actions in the past takes birth in one of 84,00,000 types of bodies, including
animals, insects, etc. In each body, the person learns to do good in its own capacity
and progresses upward to take birth again in human body, learns lessons of Nature
and lives a life of nobleness, to be one with God, the Universal Consciousness.
10. Hindus avoid converting
the whole or major part of our land surface on the earth into a wide graveyard and
to dump one dead body over the other at one place. Cremation as the best method
of disposal of a dead body, with due respect, honour and affection
Main Methods of Disposal
of Dead Body:
1. Bhoo Samadhi (burial
underground)
2. Jala Samadhi (water burial)
3. Agni Dah (cremation)
Apart from the above three
exposures of body for being comsumed by vultures and other birds or beasts, being
preserved in caves, and mummifying are the three methods which have been used since
the ancient times.
To bury a holy body (according
to Shastras) one should go to the east or north of the village, dig a pit about
eight feet deep, then water thereon thrice, spread the Darbha grass on the bottom
of the pit, Deck the dead body with garlands, sandalwood paste and salt, deposit
the body in the it with prayer, and put a water pot next to the body while reciting
the mantras.
What the state of things
was before the composition of the Rigved cannot be said with certainity. There is
no general agreement as to the age of Rigved and of the ruins found at Mohenjodaro
and Harappa. Some scholars refer to complete burials. The excavation at Lauriya
Nandgarh has brought to light supposed Vedic burial pounds in which, has been found
a small golden plaque bearing the figure of a nude female, the Earth Goddess, Mahakali.
ANTYESTI CREMATION:
The main steps to be followed
are as,
1. Bhumi Shuddhi: Purifying
place with sesame seeds, Shaligram, Tulasi, Gangajal and Kusha.
2. Kshor Karma: Eldest son with shaved hair. Place on the Yagyopaveet (Janeu).
3. Earthee (casket): Under the open sky.
4. Deep Daan: Lighting a lamp near the head of the decesed.
5. Bhuumi Shuddhi: Keeping the floor clean.
6. Shav Sthapan: Deceased's head should be facing to the North.
7. Snan: Sprinkling the holy water.
8. Alankar: Offering kumkum, sandle wood paste, basil leaves, gold, Ganga water,
flowers.
9. Pind Daan: Offering anna balls with sesame seed and Gangajal.
FIRST PIND: The first
Pind is given in the hand of the deceased at the place of death by the name of Pret,
to please the Devas of that place.
SECOND PIND: At the
door of the place of death, the second pInd should be offered by the name Paanth
to avoid the disturbance caused by the Bhoots and Prets.
The wife then takes four
rounds with a coconut in her hand, followed by the four hush carriers. The son first
to follow her.
THIRD PIND:
Half way to crematorium the third Pind should be offered to avoid the disturbances
coming from Pishach, Yakshas, Khechars and Devils. At the crematorium the dead body
should have his head facing north. After doing a small havan in crematorium, O fire
God, you are in the five elements and preserver of the world, may you take this
soul to heaven.
FOURTH PIND AND FIFTH:
After keeping the dead body on the cremation pyre two Pinds should be offered by
the name of the deceased, one in the pyre by the name of Bhoot, Rudra daivato and
another by the name of Sadhak in the hand.
PANCHAK: If a body
is being cremated in the Pnachak (last five Nakshatras in the almanac) another four
pieces of grass must be kept beside the dead body. Holding a fire lamp in his hand,
the son should walk around the fire and light the pyre.
FOOD: Food is not
cooked at home between death and cremation, that can be brought from outside. However,
that depends upon individuals situation. After cremation all the faily members should
take bath and home cooked food must be offered to a cow. This system is repeated
for ten days.
SUTAK NIVRITTI: Condolence
should be observed for nine nights, hence tenth day is Sutak Nirvitti day. On that
day Shiva Puja, Pipal Puja, is considered.
SAPINDI: (on the
twelfth day) Pagadi is another important ceremony. By that the rights are transefered
to the son and he then onwards performs the ceremony till the 12th day, with 52
Pinds.
CHAUTHA: (collection
of ashes): aslo known as Marka, Parchawani, and Rasma Pagari. Usually performed
on or after the third day of the death. The eldest son slong with the hush carrier
declares they have cremated the body and therfore are responsible for the good deeds
on his behalf. Eldest son or the next of the kin is declared for being responsible
in all the financial and other business matters of the deceased. Eldest son is declared
the successor. There is a Kriya for thirteen days with daily mourning, Pind-dan,
ten days Sutak observance, eleventh day Narayan Bali, twelfth day Dwadashah, and
the final part on thirteenth day known as Uthawala and Brahman Bhojan. However,
in modern days, lack of time, people are completing everthing in one day.
KRIYA: Three
Sodashies (52 Pinds)
16 MALIN PINDS:
1st, At the place of death,
2nd, At the door,
3rd, Half the way to the crematorium,
4th & 5th, At the pyre before lighting the pyre,
6th, On the third day at the time of the ashes collection and
10th to 16th, Pinds of ten days given from the first day of funeral rites for each
day.
MADHYAM PINDS: (On
the eleventh day 11 Pindas and 5 for Sapindi) 1. Vishnu, 2. Shiva, 3. Yama, 4. Chandrama,
5. Agni, 6. Kaavya, 7. Kaal, 8. Rudra, 9. Purush Parameshwar, 10. Preta, 11. Vishnu,
12. Brahma, 13. Vishnu, 14. Shiva, 15. Yama, 16. Deceased.
UTTAM SHODASHI: Twelve
Pinds for twelve months, and fifteenth day (Pakshik), one and half month (tripaakshik),
five and a half months (nyun shanmaashik), and eleven and half month's (nyunabdhik).
These sexteen Pinds are offered to the deceased. Also 4 Pinds for Sapindi, 3 for
Pret and one for 1 Adhik mas if that come within one year after death.
CCHILD DEATH: Under
the age of 27 months a child must be buried under the ground. Milk is donated in
the name of the cild. However, if a child is deaad in the womb, no rituals are performed.
The more Vasana one has
while living mind about the material things, more they need for proper way of Antyesti.
SANYASI: A Sanyasi
(one who has renounced) needs no Pinds Dan Kriyas. This rite is already performed
for him at the time of renouncement ceremony.
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