Hari Om Parents,
We began with the Opening Prayers. We started to learn chanting of Shiva Manasa Pooja stotram. We also played chanting of this stotram by Swami Brahmanandaji to help practice.
Recall - Last class we saw how one can develop an attitude of gratitude through the Panchayagnas; Devayagna, Pitruyagna, Bhuthayagna, Manushyayagna and Brahma or Rishiyagna. In Samskara 3 we saw the duties of a householder after Vivaha. Continuing with that we will see the samskaras that are performed after a baby is born.
Samskara 7 - Jatakarma. This ceremony is performed at birth to ward off evil effects on the child and to provide long healthy life. Father whispers Gayatri mantra in the ears of the baby. Goddess Sarawasti is also worshipped so that child can be nourished by milk of knowledge. A drop of honey is placed in child's mouth – implying life will be sweet.
Samskara 8 - Namakarana or naming ceremony. Eleven days after birth the child is named. Names should be meaningful. (Students were told to ask their parents what is the meaning/significance of their name). It should be a source of inspiration to the child through out life. Generally in Hindu culture name of a God or Goddess is given. Calling out that name itself will have cleansing effect. Traditionally a saintly person or priest is asked to give the name of the child. For example Lord Rama was named by Sage Vasistha and Lord Krishna by Sage Garga. During this ceremony first Kalasa Puja is done. Kalasa is a pot filled with holy water, placed on a kolam or rangoli. Mango leaves pointing upwards are placed in the water and a coconut, with eyes on top, is placed on the mango leaves. A thread goes around the Kalasa. Vedic verses are chanted and it is sanctified. The water represents the primordial waters from which the whole creation has come forth; mango leaves and the coconut symbolizes the creation. The thread represents love that binds all the creation together. Baby is feed honey with silver spoon. Honey stands for sweet words and silver for purity.
Samskara 9 - Nishkramana, first day out for the baby. After 40 days the baby is taken out of the house and exposed to outside elements. Usually the baby is taken to a temple and exposed to the sun and the moon. The Mrtyunjaya mantra is chanted for a long, healthy life.
Samskara 10 Annaprasana – child is fed solid food around 6 months, when teeth begin to form. Food is offered to Lord first and then taken as prasada. Typically mantras and bhajans are chanted before feeding the child. They create Godly atmosphere and effect the food positively. Also what we think while cooking, while feeding and while eating has effect on the food and hence our thoughts and well-being.
Dr Masaru Emoto, Japanese scientist, did research on effect of words on water (Message from Water and Universe). Water droplets exposed to various words, music and environments were studied. He examined the crystal formation under microscope – the results were mind-blowing. As shown below crystals were beautifully formed when water was exposed to positive words or music and crystals were disorganized when exposed to negative words or music. We also shared a video of the doctor showing effect of gratitude on water crystals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDNhH8deZPg Masaru Emoto water experiment; Water Has Memory! Dr. Masaru Emoto's Water Experiment! Masaru Emoto. Students were greatly surprised to see that water has memory and responds to external stimuli / thought waves.
Since our body is made up of 72% water – what we think, what we hear and listen too will have profound effect on us. It now makes scientific sense to us name of child is important – as every-time we call our children with God or Goddess name it will have positive effect; this can then be extrapolated to many things – mantras in temple, bhajans, prayers, soothing music … all will have effect on us.
Children were again encouraged to prayer before eating – as the prayer will have positive effect on the food they eat.
Samskara 11 - Cudakarma or mundana. This is performed at age 1 or 3 years old. Hair is shaved off from the baby's head and offered to the Lord or to a sacred place. It signifies removal of bad thoughts. From medical standpoint one can inspect child's head and make sure all bones are growing well and fused.
Samskara 12 - Karnavedha or piercing the ear lobes. This is done between 3 and 5 years of age. As per Hindu scriptures, it is a medical process that prevents certain diseases. There is some thought that it activates certain energy center or accupunture point in our nervous system
When the ears are pierced, the father chants "Om bhadrañ karãebhiß..." mantra in the child's ear requesting the Lord that may my child only hear what is auspicious; inauspicious thoughts and words may stay away from my child.
Based on the water experiments shown above it makes lot us sense why we need to expose ourselves to only positive and auspicious sounds. If we hear and see what is auspicious, our thoughts will be auspicious resulting in auspicious actions.
Samskara 13 - Vidyarambha. This is the beginning of primary education for the child. Lord Ganesha and Mother Saraswathi, symbols of brilliance and knowledge are worshipped. During the ceremony symbolically a seed is planted to signify the importance of education in the child's mind. It involves the parent or priest holding the child's hand and writing 'Om' on a plate of rice and offering flowers to the tools of education, namely, pencil, paper etc.. This ritual is repeated on Saraswathi puja day during Navarathri.
The students were asked if they remember any of these ceremonies done to them and to find out from their parents if they were performed for them and look at photographs/video clips if available …
Pranam,
Rukmani Sriram
Devender Akula
