Articles explaining the "Seemanthm" ritual

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

Here are a few articles explaining the "Seemanthm" ritual, that appeared in

a sister website.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

========================================================

 

 

Sowbhagyawathi Mathangi Sriram,

 

This is the information I have gathered through web on the above subject.

Hope this will give some insight of that samskaram.

 

PUMSUVANAM

 

Pre-birth rituals are performed:This ceremony is performed in the second,

third and the fourth month of pregnancy. The meaning and object of this

ceremony is to "quicken a male child" in the woman. The Pumsavana is

performed on a day of male Nakshatra. During this ritual, a few drops of the

juice of the Banyan stem are put into the right nostril of the pregnant lady

to inhale it, with a prayer for the birth of a son or a worthy child.

According to Saga "Susruta", the great Ayurvedic writer, the juice of the

Banyan tree has all the properties of relieving trouble during

pregnancy.Sanctified thread is tied to the left wrist of the lady by way of

protection. The mantras, freely rendered, pray: ""May God Isana fulfil our

wishes; Dhata bless the world with children and wealth. May He bless this

household too with children. May the immortals live in this house. May Agni

bless me with sons. May Indra bless me with children. May I have handsome

children."

 

a) To know and understand the importance of pregnancy as a condition;

b) For the overall development of the unborn child - physical, mental and

spiritual;

c) To create a favorable environment for the expectant mother, with emphasis

on her eating habits and her emotional and physical well being.

 

Timing:

Usually, after the completion of three months of pregnancy, but may also be

done later. It is believed that after the third month, the child in the womb

starts taking a shape. It is in this period that the foetal brain begins to

develop. It is important to provide a healthy environment to the unborn

child, through the mother. Her positive thoughts, emotions and habits are

all considered beneficial to the child.

 

SEEMANTHAM

 

This is performed during the period between the fifth and the eighth months

of pregnancy. The specific materials used during this Samskara, that are for

the lady only, are, the quill of a porcupine, an ear of ripe paddy and some

Udumbara leaves. The deity invoked is Rika, the presiding deity of the

full-moon. Their implications are: that the pregnancy should be fruitful;

the child should be endowed with sharp and penetrating intellect (like the

sharp quill of the porcupine). The child should be beautiful like the

full-moon. The gist of the Mantra is: "I beseech the goddess Raka. May she

make this ceremony blameless. May my son be endowed with sharp

intellect."Music, especially on the veena, is indicated to be played on this

occasion. This increases the mothers suckling power besides conferring

other psychological benefits. Ladies are asked to sing: "Be a mother of

heroic sons" thus creating a heroic atmosphere. The mother fasts and keeps

silent after the ceremony till night time when the stars become visible. At

the close of the ceremony she touches a male calf, symbolizing a son.At the

time of pregnancy this is performed for the health and wealth of to born

Baby and also for normal delivery.

 

 

adiyen

 

Bala

============================================

>Sadagopan <sgopan

>tiruvenkatam ,

>Mathangi Sriram <mattysriram, Ponnappan

><Oppiliappan>, Sgt <saranagathi>,

>Ramanujamission, SG <Tiruvenkatam> Subject:

>[t'venkatam] Re: seemantham Sun, 29 Aug 2004 19:51:52

>-0400

>

>Dear SrImathi Mathangi Sriram :

>

>Recognizing the need for understanding the true meanings behind Veda

>Manthrams associated with the Vaidhika SamskArAs , I have taken the

>initiative to collect such information through sponsorship of Educational

>releases from authoritative sources .

>

>The most recent example is the release of ThrikAla SandhyA Vandhanams for

>the three Vedams in the Multimedia DVD Format .

>

>The next one awaiting release is the 5 volume DVD/VCD on the Vedic

>SamskArAs such as VivAham , Seemantham , Upanayanam and two more topics

>(Srarddham and apara Kaaryams) . It was my privelege to support the all

>day conference on the above topics that took place in West Mambalam on

>August 8 to celebrate the golden anniversary of the Mambalam Samskrita

>VidhyAlayA run by Sri OzhapAkkam Swamy .

>

>I have been advised that There were 300 participaants . The SambhAvanai for

>the 7 speakers , TadhiyArAdhanam and the recording of the sessions by the

>video professional were made possible from the sponsorship of the entire

>day's conference by adiyEn .

>

>I hope to recieve the 5 CDs soon here and summarize for you in English the

>content of the conference in Tamil held on August 8 . This should help to

>advance the goals of participating in the Vaidhika SamskArAs and

>appreciating the meaning and significance of such samskArAs from experts .

>

>NamO Veda PursushAya , Oppiliappan KOil Varadachari Sadagopan

>

>

>- "Mathangi Sriram"

><mattysriram <> Saturday,

>August 28, 2004 12:13 PM seemantham

>

>

> > Hello everyone , > > My parents would like to conduct a seemantham

>function for me very soon. I > am very much interested in knowing the

>significance of the rituals > performed rather than blindly following it as

>a custom. If anyone has any > interesting articles or information regarding

>the procedure to be followed > and the significance please fwd it to me or

>the group for the benefit of > everyone . > > Thank You > > Mathangi