Input for the SDDS Panel per request of Sri Mohan Sagar

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Mohan Sagar :

 

First of all my best wishes to you

for chairing this important panel . Although I will be away at

Pittsburgh during Saturday ( the day of the panel ) , I look

forward to learning about the highlights of the discussions/

recommendations on Sunday , August 31 during my participation

in the second SDDS Assembly at Pomona , NY . I want to share

with you and the other members of the Bhakthi list of two

recent events that has relevance to your panel .

 

(1) I had the privelege of seving as one of the three judges in

an essay contest for youngsters ( 8-18 years) sponsored by

the Hindu Temples of USA . The contest was subdivided

in to two age groups : 8-12 years group and 12-18 years

group . I was impressed and encouraged by the essays of

the youngsters with respect to their own impressions on

the three topics suggested fort he contest . These students

are either born here or have spent most of their life in USA .

The topics were : (1) What role does a Hindu Temple play

in your life ? (2) Lessons that I learned from Srimadh RamAyaNA

and (3) Hindu Religion and Society ( Approximate Title ) .

 

The anlaysis , content and personal reconciliation of their

life here and their heritage as children of Hindu parents

were impressive . Three prizes were awarded to the three best

essayist in the three categories by the three Judges at the request

of the Coordinating committee of the Hindu Temple Federation

of USA . There is much to learn regarding how the minds of the

participating youngsters have been shaped , which led to these

impressive , credible and personalized analysis .

 

(2) I attended the National Naama Organization Meeting yesterday

in New Jersey and gave a talk on Sri KrishNAvathAram there in

the context of the theme of " Sri Jayanthi Celebrations " . The organizers

of this meeting included Mrs. Nagu Satyan , a respected member of our

Bhakthi List . She is the national Coordinator of NaamA and

may wish to share with us her own " recipes " on this important

subject . The NaamA group has close to 600 members

across the country . There might have been 200 people

( Children , Parents and relatives ) who particpated in this event .

 

What impressed me at this meeting is the deep involvement

of the children themselves in the different items of the meeting .

The subject was Sri KrishNa Jayanthi , a celebration about our Lord being

born as a baby to VasudEvA and Devaki on the KrishNa PakshAshtami ,

when the asterism of RohiNi was in ascendance . It is a joyous occasion

and the festivities had songs , dances and a variety of delectable foods

prepared exclusively for Sri Jayanthi ( Vella Seedai , Salt Seedai , Laddu ,

tEnn Kuzhal , Manankombhu , Mysore Paak , Kajju Barfi , Hot Mixture,

Chakli , Kodvale et al ) . There was ample room for the children's participation

 

and to learn about the tattvam behind the celebrations thru their own

participation in the following agenda items :

 

1. MaNtapam decoration (2) KrishNa poojA (3) Thottil uthsavam

(4) dance offering (5) Skit on the Lord's life (6) Gopas and GopikAs

parade to salute the Lord (7) KolAttam and (8) Bhajan . Active networking

sessions that preceded these events . The two lectures in the forenoon

were : a talk on the significance of KrishNAvatAram and the message of

Sri bhagavadh Gita by Professor Prasad . These lectures were for the

benefit of the elders mostly . Participation by children etches a deep memory

for the rest of their life . It was clear that asking them to be passive

participants in long ceremonies enjoyed by the adults

wont go too far in capturing their attention .

 

My observation is that the deep involvement of the children in a

playful , festival context is a very apt way to interest and hold the

attention of the children growing in this country or in India , where we

grew up . DipAvaLi celebration , Kaarthigai Dheepam , Uriyadi ,

Sarakku maaram , SokkappAnai ,Sri Rama Navami celebration ,

BrahmOthsavams at the temple , AvaNi avittam ( Idly ,appam

and Kozhakkatai ), NavarAthri /Sarasvathi poojai/Vijaya Dasami ,

Vaikunta EkAdasi , et al .

 

The parents have to be familiar with the deeper meanings

of the festivals and the PurANic descriptions

to wet the appetite of the children to want to know more . We learnt

a lot from our grandmother , mother and aunts about many of the lore

that enthused us to learn more . Our father , grandfather and elders

taught us as " what to do when " types of information . Such examples

are : When you get up in the morning , you must recite the name

Hari seven times . Before going to sleep, we should salute the Lord

with the utterance , " MaadhavAya nama : " . When we conclude any

activity of a religious nature , we should state , " Sri KrishNAya nama: "

Both our parents and grandparents taught us sthothrams that were

easy to recite or specific paasurams such as the two of

Sri ANDAL referred to by Sri PBA Swamigal . Children need to

be taught seelcted sthOthrams by some one , who is proficient

in Sanskrit pronumciations . Professor Prasad does a yeoman job here .

 

These small routines are not diffcult to practise and these will

pave the way for a disciplined approach . Parents have to set

the example and follow it up . SandhyAvandhanam is another

important item for those male children , who have undrgone

the PooNal KalyANam .

 

Expanation of the important Hindu samskArams and their roles

in one's life has to be explained at the right time . I will write on

the 40 Hindu SamskArAs soon as a starter here .

 

Instead of going on in a free thought mode further , May I suggest

that you would like to examine the following topics as approaches

to gain additional insights into engaging the attention of our

very bright children to Sri VaishNavism :

 

1. Should there be a graded approach based on the age level

of the Child and what are the phased approaches so that

they are gradually exposed

 

2. What is the role of the Temple ?

 

3 . What is the role of the parent ?

 

4 . What is the role of emerging technologies like computer

Games , Multimedia , Internet to introduce our IthihAsAs and PurANAs

to gain their attention (e.g) the home pages project underway

for the 108 divya desams and the related CD ROM project

under the leadership of Professor Dileepan . The prototype

home page for the first of the 108 divya desams has now been

completed by Sri Sreyas Sarangan for Oppiliappan and he will

soon announce the URL for it for you to enjoy it. Even The comic books

( the "ancient " technology ) on Bharatham and RaamAyaNam

seem to sell well at some temples ! At one dollar a page ,

it is a good business as well !

 

5 . Explanation of the meaning behind simple but powerful

ceremonies like shodasOpacharams to the Lord and

understanding of them in the context of our reverence

to an exalted and invited "guest " to our homes .

 

6 . A logical , credible analysis of the meaning behind the

daily rituals like AarAdhanam with the help of experts

like Sri Anbil SwamigaL , Dr. Vijayaraghavan and others

that this group is priveleged to have as members .

 

In summary , a carefully laid out multi-runged , graded

approach might be helpful to demystify some of

" the intimidating , impersonal and quaint looking " daily

observances and change them into " comforting , personal

and deeply nourishing " experiences so that an inquiring

and a curious mind of a growing child/adolescent

can be captivated and held on track firmly out of its own

convictions . Agan the role of informed and involved can

not be underestimated in such a serious effort . Rest ,

the BhagavAn will take care .

 

Sri KrishNArpaNamasthu

V.Sadagopan