Fwd: 1.The samskaras-16 in number. 2. Sannskrit, our treasure.

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USBrahmins , shivashankara rao <shivashankararao wrote:SHODASHA SAMSKARAS.

By Shivashankara Rao The sixteen steps of purification among Hindus.

(SHODASHA SAMSKAARAS)

Samskaara

means cleaning, improving. These help in development. “What is done by

elders and knowledgeable people are followed by others†(MAHAAJANAHA

YENA GATHAHA SA PANTHAHA). Samskaaras are of two types- one internal,

the other is external. The external samskaaras are not totally a waste

although they should not be mistaken for the real.- like the covering

on the coconut.

The sixteen samskaaras are the following:

1.Garbhaadaana, 2. Pumsavana and 3. Seemanthonnayana

(These three are done before the baby is born; parents are responsible for these.)

4. Jaatakarma, 5. Naamakarana, 6. Nishkramana, 7. Annapraashana, 8. Karnavedha, 9. Choula,

(These six are done before the baby is 5 years old; parents and the relatives are jointly responsible for these).

10. Upanayana, 11. Vedaarambha, 12. Samaavarthana, 13. Marriage, 14. Vaanaprastha. 15. Sannyaasa. 16. Anthyeshti.

We may briefly deal with these to find out the significance and the meaning attached to each of these. But we should remember, “NA YONIRNAAPI SAMSKAARO NA SHRUTHAM NA CHA SANTHATHIHI

KAARANAANI DVIJATVASYA VRITTHAMEVA THU KAARANAMâ€

(It is not because a person was born to Brahmin parents, not by

samskaaras, not by learning Vedas, not because of the dynasty that he

becomes a Brahmin; Good character is the only way to become a Brahmin)

GARBHAADAANA

This first samskaara is for purification of the seed and the egg and it is in the beginning of the child birth.

PUMSAVANA

After

the conception is confirmed, this is done during the third month of

pregnancy. After conception, the husband is supposed to follow

brahmacharya till the baby is two months old. There is a practice of

administering some ayurvedic juices through the nose of the lady among

some people.

SEEMANTHONNAYANA

This is to enrich the pregnancy

and it is done during the fourth, sixth or eigth month. The husband has

to please her through sweet words, entertain through music etc., and

the elder ladies reassure her and bless.

JAATHAKARMA

This is

done after the child birth. Cow’s ghee and honey are mixed and with

these, OM is written on the child’s tongue through a golden stick. The

mother is bathed in fragrant water and the child is fed first through

the right and later from the left breast of the mother. Child is

blessed by all the elders.

NAAMAKARANA

The naming ceremony is

done on the eleventh/101s t day/or the first day of the second year.

Poojas are offered with homas and elders bless “tvam Ayushmaan

varchasvee tejasvee shreemaan bhooyaaha†The child is given a name with

even number of letters for the male child and with odd number of

letters for the female child. It is ordained that the names with stars,

trees, rivers, mountains, birds, snakes etc., and fear and servitude

should not be given.

NISHKRAMANA

This is done after three

months on the third day of the lunar side of the month or on the day of

birth during the fourth month. The baby is bathed, new clothes given;

poojas and homas conducted and is shown the Sun. “Be powerful like the

Sun and live long†is the aasheervadam given.

ANNAPRAASHANA

After

five months, smooth rice is given. Yajurveda mantra is uttered

indicating the nature of the food. ‘Annaapathe annasys no dehya

nameevasya shushbeenaha, prapradathaaram thaarisha oorjam no dehi

dvipade chatushpadeâ€

(Oh lord of food, give us food which makes us disease free and healthy.

Help the farmer who gives us food. Grant all of us the required

strength)

Then the elders say, “tvamannapathirannaado vardhamaano bhooyaahaâ€.

CHOODAKARMA

This is only for boys and it is also called Choula. It is done during

the brighter half of the month during Uttaraayana. Prayer to Eswara,

swastivaachana, special homas are conducted and then the child is made

to sit in front of the barber. The hairs are shaved off amidst mantras.

Some times, only a portion of the hairs is removed. The hairs so

removed are buried underground. The child’s head is then smeared with

butter or cream of curds and bathed. New clothes are given. Elders give

the asheervadam as “ Jeevaha sharadasshatham vardhamaanahaâ€.

KARNAVEDHA

It

is done during the third or fifth month. After abhyanga a new set of

clothes are given and special poojas are conducted. To please the child

play things are given along with whatever the child likes amidst

mantrocchaarana the right ear is first pierced and then the left.

Golden wire is inserted and tightened. Prayer is offered for good words

falling on the ears. UPANAYANAM

The word Upanayana has two

meanings. To take the boy near- is one meaning; Second eye is another.

This second eye is shastradrishti or knowledge. For this, teaching from

a Guru starts.

When the boy grows fit enough to move to the

gurukula, he is given the yajnopaveeta. The three lines in the

yagnopaveeta represent the determination to study through Kaayaa,

vaachaa and Manasaa. Normally the Brahmin boys are given this samskaara

at the eigth year. It is preferable to hold this function during the

spring time.

On the previous day the boy and his parents take mangal snaana and pray

to the assembly of learned people and then to Ganesha, then punyaaha,

ankuraarpana, rakshaabandhana, naandi, grahayajna, Ishtadevathaapooja

mantapa pooja are done.

Ankuraarpana, punyaaha, rakshaabandhana, navathanthu dhaarana,

yajnopaveetha dharane, Matrukaa bojana(also called Choula pankti

bhojana), digvapana, kshourakarma, agnisthapana, palaashanmeedaadaana,

ashmaarohana, udakaanjali, hastagrahana, devathaa pradaana,

brahmopadesha, pradhana homa, gayatri upadesha, oshta karma sparshana,

palaasha danda sweekara, aadithyopasthaana, kaamya vidhi, agni kaarya,

shikshaa, bhikshaacharya, palaasha karma are all done. Next is the

brahma bhojana. Then, the guests are honoured and their ashirvadam

taken.

VEDARAMBHA

This

is done the next day after the upanayanam. Signifies the starting of

the Veda abhayaasa. The four Vedas, upa Vedas, upaangaas, brahmanas and

upanishats are studied from that day.

SAMAAVARTHANA

This is done

after completion of the Veda abhyaasa. (This is now done before

marriage!!) Normally, this has to be done at the Guru’s place

signifying that he has now become a graduate. He then adorns all his

jewels and returns to his father. The Guru is lavished with gifts etc.

MARRIAGE (VIVAAHA)

One

who does not marry becomes yajnaheena and condemnable says taitthareeya

Brahmana (2.2.2.6). A brahmin has to fulfill his Rishi Runa by

Brahmacharya, Deva Runa by yajnas and pitrRuna by getting children,

says the samhitha (6.3.10.5).

A Grihasta is the pivot of the society. Manusmrithi says, As all living

beings live by the air, all aashramis live because of the Grihasta.

Thus, marriage is not only a social obligation, but a dharmic samskaara

as well.

Two persons born and brought up at different places, have to live

together throughout their lives after that. Patience, sacrifice, love

are essential for this and this is what the marriage ceremony teaches.

However, amidst so many unnecessary procedures, the main purpose is

being lost now a days.

Paaraskara, Bodhaayana, AAswalaayana, Kaatyaayana, Gadaadhara,

Maandaleeka and other sootrakaaras have indicated that the essential

parts of a marriage are vaagdaana, Madhuparka, varapooja, Kanyaadaana,

kankana bandhana, maalaarpana, akshathaaropana, maangalya bandhana,

agnisthaapana, paanigrahana, saptapadi, pradhaana homa, ashmaarohana,

and Laajaahoma. After all these and at the boy’s place Dhruva and

Arundhati nakshatra darshana, Aagneya sthaaleepaaka karma, oupaasanaa

homa, and shesha homa are done.

Before the Panigrahana, the boy is given another yajnopaveetha. This

indicates that he has to shoulder additional responsibilities of

service to mother and father, wife and children and the guests and

invitees.

Now,

we may consider the extravagant way this is being done now in our

society. There are several procedures which have lost significance â€"

for example Vaagdaana and varapooja. Kaashi yaatra is a joke.!! These

require to be deleted.

The most important part of marriage is the saptapadi. The first step is

for Rasa, then Savi, Vriddhi, soulabhya, cattle wealth, Ruthus and

sapta Hotrus. Lastly, the boy says, “My Friend, Remain with me for all

these seven in life. Love meâ€.

In any case, keeping only the essential parts of the vivaaha all the unnecessary paraphernalia should be dispensed with.

GARBHAADAANA

After

marriage, the boy and the girl have to observe three nights celibacy.

On the fourth day, the Garbhaadaana is celebrated. The mantras chanted

during this Karma is, “ May we get strong, healthy, long living

children. May our ancestors get mukti by this. May god give you the

strength to bear children. May Tvashtra, Dhaata and Ashvini give beauty

to our children.â€

VAANAPRASTHA

The old couple when decided to

leave the house should chant svastivaachana, do shaantikarana etc., and

get peace after relinquishing all attachments. Time should be spent in

learning and teaching and in prayers, trying to attain moksha

SANNYAASA

There

are four types of sannyaasa. Krama sannyaasa, Sannyaasa without

vaanaprastha, sannyaasa while in grihastha stage itself and sannyaasa

directly from Brahmacharya stage.

Relinquishing Kaama, Krodha, Moha,

Lobha, Mada and Maatsarya is a prerequisite for sannyaasa. He will not

have shikha and yajnopaveetha. Saffron clothes with a stick in hand and

begging without any remorse etc., and guiding others towards moksha are

the duties of a sannyaasi.

Before one takes sannyaasa, he has to eschew solid food for three days

and spend time praying alone. On the fourth day getting up at braahmi

muhoortha after due prayers etc., hairs are cut and bathed. Standing in

a river or tank turning to east he utters, “Putraishana, viththaishana,

lokaishana mayaa parithyaktaa matthaha sarva bhoothebhyo abhayamasthuâ€

and keeping fire as a witness, becomes a sannyaasi.

ANTHYESHTI

This

is a karma done by the children after the person’s death. The body is

washed, new dresse are worn and sandal paste applied. Then taking the

body to the burial ground a small pit of size 8feetx 4 feet in the

north south direction is excavated and sanctified with cow dung water.

Over the pile of Fire wood, the body is kept with head towards north

and additional fire wood is placed. Ghee mixed with sandal, Kastoori

Kesari and other sweet smelling materials are dipped with a fire wood

and fire started.

After the body is completely burnt, those who had gone there return

home after bathing andshaanti karana mantras uttered at home . Next

day, the asthi sanchayana and releasing in flowing water.. For thirteen

days shraaddha karmas are done. After that monthly, oonamaasika, annual

shraaddhaas are done. It is shraddhaa that is more important here than

the luxury. It is condemnable if some one does these shraaddhaas

luxuriously after the parents are gone without looking after them

carefully when they were alive

K N SHIVASHANKARA RAO

Greatness of Sanskrit

By Shivashankara Rao The most important cause for the continuity of Indian culture

throughout the country is undoubtedly Sanskrit. All languages of India

with perhaps the exception of Tamil consider Sanskrit as the mother.

The world’s most ancient language was used in early Vedic literature

about 5000 years back.

Panini’s “ASHTAADHYAAYIâ€, the most ancient grammar helped to initiate

writing. Great epics-Mahabharata and Ramayana-were authored later.

Valmiki is considered as the first poet of the world. Aswaghosha’s

BUDDHACHARITHA AND SOUNDARANANDA were later works. Kalidasa’s

KUMARASAMBHAVA, RAGHUVAMSHA, ABHIGNANA SHAAKUNTALA etc., written

somewhere near 5th century. Bhaaravi’s KIRAATHARJUNEEYA was written in

about 6th century.

Varieties in Sanskrit literature extends from dramas of Bhaasa (Prtigna

Yougharayana, SwapnaVasavadatta etc), Kalidasa,

Shoodraka(Mrichchikatika), Vishakadatta(Mudraraakshasa),

Bhavabhooti(Mahaveeracharitha, Uttara Ramacharitha, Malathi madhava),

Harsha(Ratnavali, Priyadarshika, Nagananda), Mahendra

Vikrama(Mattavilasa) etc.,

Vishnu Sharma’s PANCHATANTRA started the art of story telling. Baana’s

KADAMBARI started the novel writing. Goddala’s ‘UDAYA SUNDARI’ started

the love stories., also called Champoo kavya. Bhojaraja’s SHRINGARA

MANJARI is a novel where different types of love are explained.

Somadeva’s KATHA SARITHSAGARA is a treasure of stories. Kshemendra’s

‘KALAVILASA’, DARPADALANA, DESHOPADESHA etc., are works of satire

dealing with corruption, and other evil practices.

Patanjali’s MAHABHASHYA started the analytical writing. Aryabhata and

Bhaskaracharya wrote of mathematics and astronomy. Charaka and

sushrutha wrote of medicine. Koutilya on politics and administration.

Bharathamuni’s

NATYASHASTRA started the art of criticisism. Bhamaha, Dandin, Vemana,

Rudratha, Anandavardhana, Kuntaka, Udhbuta, Lollata, Dhananjaya and

others including Raja Bhoja were famous critics of the time.

DOWNFALL

The

downfall started with foreign aggression from about 1200 AD. Even then

there were some efforts to further the literature. Amarachandra,

Someswara, Balachandra, Vastupala, Princess Ganga, Ahobila, Dindima,

Gopala, Manadeva, Neelakanta, Venkataadhvari and others were the famous

writers of the time. These efforts continued even during the British

period.

Even now Sanskrit is providing a storehouse for the words required to

write scientific and technical books. This has come to the personal

experience of this author.

WHY IMPORTANCE OF SANSKRIT?

There are four reasons.

1. The accuracy of grammar, beauty of the expressions and the sound of

Sanskrit is not found in any other language of the world. It provides

the basis for all other Indian languages like what Greek and Latin are

for the western languages.

2. Indian culture rests on Sanskrit. Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Epics

like Mahabharata and Ramayana, Yoga sutras are all in Sanskrit. It is

these that have bonded India together.

3.

Sanskrit is rich in literature by poets like Kalidasa, Bharavi,

Banabhatta, bhartrhari etc., It is not that it deals only with

spiritual matters. It caters to all needs of all people including

finance, politics, law, mental health, mathematics, astronomy,

medicine, engineering and many others.

4. It provides values applicable to the whole humanity. It not only

provides a hope for the individual that he can rise to the level of the

divine and through that concept, one can identify with every one else

and thus helps in developing brotherhood in the whole world.

SPECIALITY OF SANSKRIT

expressions of vowels and consonants. Consonants

have no independent expression without the vowels. This system is not

seen in other languages. (Example: - FRY, DRY. In come and coma, “coâ€

has different expressions. TOP, MOP, JUM, CHUM â€" here, O AND U have

expression like “aâ€.) Such anomalies are not found in Sanskrit.

2. From the MOOLA DHATHU, it is possible to create a number of words in

Sanskrit. There has been no change in either the words or their

meanings from times immemorial.

3.

There has been no change in the rules of grammar and hence the same

type of poetical works is there irrespective of when the works were

created.

4. There is a speciality in the literature connected to Vedas,

Upanishads and Puranas. Although there is a difference in the style in

these works, there is no difference in the words used.

SHOULD WE NOT PROTECT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE LANGUAGE WHICH IS OUR PROUD HERITAGE? SHIVASHANKARA RAO K N