Guest guest Posted August 15, 2005 Report Share Posted August 15, 2005 Dear all, Pranams. I have a small query which I hope someone can answer. I am pregnant with my first child and am posed with the question of performing ceremonies in the name of my child. I have been told that apart from praying to the deities for the well being of the mother and the child, seemantham is also an opportunity to ask for a male child!! I do not wish to perform this function if that is indeed true. Could someone clarify for me if what I have understood is correct. I do not wish to hurt my elders with my decision if I am not right. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 Dear sir, Thank you for your prompt response. From your reply, I perceive that my understanding of the samskara of seemantham is more or less correct. I perfectly well understand the fact that seemantham is ALSO done for the welfare of the child and the mother which is what we do in the poochootal functions as well. With no offense being meant to anyone on this list or elsewhere, I am of the opinion that if one indeed does have immense attachment to the Almighty, there is really no need to ask him for anything. My question was raised in order to find out that even if I had to go through a seemantham, would it be possible to abstain from chanting/doing karyam that intentionally asks for a male child. I respect our traditions and have tried to adhere to most of them with/without much ado. But at junctures such as this one, I do not believe in citing the sastras and our traditions and willfully following them despite the intentions behind them. I do understand the reasons behind doing do in ancient times, but cannot see any reason to follow them per se today. I would much rather distribute food to the less priviledged on that day in the name of my child. If anyone can help me better understand the reason we still follow several of our vaidhika karmas as we did in the days of yore with no modifications whatsoever to conform to todays ways of living, I will be grateful. Thanks for all of your wishes. Pranams. __ Start your day with - make it your home page http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 >> I am of the opinion that if one indeed does have immense attachment to the Almighty, there is really no need to ask him for anything. <<< True..as per Gita, (ananya...yogakxemam vahAmyaham) However, the realized and ever connected people are encouraged to continue to perform the presecribed duties -- with detachment again a sper Gita (nabuddhi bedam janayet agnaanaamkarma sanghiNaam... jOsHayet sarva karmANi vidvAn yuktah samaacharan) >>>My question was raised in order to find out that even if I had to go through a seemantham, would it be possible to abstain from chanting/doing karyam that intentionally asks for a male child. << If you do want to perform the ritual, you do it as is. For Srivaishnavas, all work is worship (maam anusmara yuddhya cha), all karmas are to be done with satvika tyaaga. Thus, in effect there is no question of asking this or that, even while chanting the mantras which say so. When you fly you have to fasten seat belt, that is the law, does not matter even if you are so FULL that you fill the whole seat plus the space in between! K.S. tAtAchAr Asha deb <prathikasha sgopan <sgopan; Tue, 16 Aug 2005 07:44:56 -0700 (PDT) Re: Doubt. Dear sir, Thank you for your prompt response. From your reply, I perceive that my understanding of the samskara of seemantham is more or less correct. I perfectly well understand the fact that seemantham is ALSO done for the welfare of the child and the mother which is what we do in the poochootal functions as well. With no offense being meant to anyone on this list or elsewhere, I am of the opinion that if one indeed does have immense attachment to the Almighty, there is really no need to ask him for anything. My question was raised in order to find out that even if I had to go through a seemantham, would it be possible to abstain from chanting/doing karyam that intentionally asks for a male child. I respect our traditions and have tried to adhere to most of them with/without much ado. But at junctures such as this one, I do not believe in citing the sastras and our traditions and willfully following them despite the intentions behind them. I do understand the reasons behind doing do in ancient times, but cannot see any reason to follow them per se today. I would much rather distribute food to the less priviledged on that day in the name of my child. If anyone can help me better understand the reason we still follow several of our vaidhika karmas as we did in the days of yore with no modifications whatsoever to conform to todays ways of living, I will be grateful. Thanks for all of your wishes. Pranams. __ Start your day with - make it your home page http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 This response is not made as one from a religious scholar, but to congratulate the writer on her willingness to ask critical questions on accepted norms and practices, and to add my few cents. Even if we do not want to be critical of what our elders did (perhaps they did what ever they did based on the socio-econic conditons that prevailed at that time), we need to ask questions, seek proper answers, modify and change course if necessary rather than accepting everything as dictated by tradition, religion etc as fully correct. Otherwise, the religion and the society based on that can become stale. It appears we need to modify prayers and rituals that perpuate inequality (like a male child is better! No, they are equal and at the same time complimentary) etc. Youngters like this person can and should contributte for the change without any fear and to move the society and country forward. I trust her husband shares and to her views and thoughts (that is the most important thing) and more importantly, she will hold on to such progressive views as she gets older (most of the injustice to women happening at homes and families seem to be perputuated by other women). The thoughts > I would much rather distribute food to the less > priviledged on that day in the name of my child. is also worth the attention. We spend good amount of our resources on performing rituals whereas many folks cannot have them even for their survival. Or we use them in such a way that only adds to the polution or dirty the place of worship (Soora thengay or breaking cocunuts into pieces etc.) and demean the less fortunate (like the poor kids running for those cocunut pieces). Or the dress code: Silk is better and can be worn without washing -- Would it not be better for the folks to go to a place of worship with a clean jeans than smelling in a silk dhoti that has never seen a dry cleaner! Rama > > []On > Behalf Of Asha deb > Tuesday, August 16, 2005 10:45 AM > sgopan; > Re: Doubt. > > > Dear sir, > Thank you for your prompt response. From your reply, > I perceive that my understanding of the samskara of > seemantham is more or less correct. I perfectly well > understand the fact that seemantham is ALSO done for > the welfare of the child and the mother which is what > we do in the poochootal functions as well. > With no offense being meant to anyone on this list or > elsewhere, I am of the opinion that if one indeed does > have immense attachment to the Almighty, there is > really no need to ask him for anything. My question > was raised in order to find out that even if I had to > go through a seemantham, would it be possible to > abstain from chanting/doing karyam that intentionally > asks for a male child. > I respect our traditions and have tried to adhere to > most of them with/without much ado. But at junctures > such as this one, I do not believe in citing the > sastras and our traditions and willfully following > them despite the intentions behind them. I do > understand the reasons behind doing do in ancient > times, but cannot see any reason to follow them per se > today. > I would much rather distribute food to the less > priviledged on that day in the name of my child. > If anyone can help me better understand the reason we > still follow several of our vaidhika karmas as we did > in the days of yore with no modifications whatsoever > to conform to todays ways of living, I will be > grateful. > Thanks for all of your wishes. > Pranams. __ > Start your day with - make it your home page > http://www./r/hs > > Links > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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