85th Birtday (SATHABHISHEKAM )

[bhattathiri]

SATHABHISHEKAM

 

Nithyannadaatha, Tharunaagnihothro, Maasopavaasee cha Pathivrathaa cha ||

Vedanthavith ChandraSahasra Darshi Shatjeevalokae Mama Vandanoyaah: ||

 

 

 

While all in this universe worships Bhagawan, Bhagawan himself worships the following six classes of individuals. They are:

 

1.One who does annadaanam daily, 2.One who has performed Soma Yaagam at a young age and continuing with Agnihothram daily ( Soma Yaagam should be performed before the hair grays) 3.Maasopavaasam is a Prayaschitta Karma and who has performed this ( Some opine that Maasopavasam means night fasting on amavasya, Pournami and Sundays, day fasting on ashtami and chathurdasi and full fasting on ekadasi throughout their life).4.A woman selflessly serving her husband without minding the hardship. 5.One who has studied Vedas and Upanishads with meaning and follows what is said in that. And 6.One who has seen 1000 full moon.

 

This is how the greatness of person celebrating the Sathaabhishekam is highlighted.

 

 

 

It is said that on this occasion Devas and Pithrus visit the son’s house and rejoice. In olden days the person on his sathaabhishekam would have had great grand –son through son ( son’s son’s son ). The person is able to see three generation of his progeny and is relieved of all his sins. He is worshipped by all and most important thing that we should do is that we should offer namaskaram to such persons.

 

It is explained that a person having completed the age of 80 years and 8 months would have passed through 1000 moon (either full moon can be reckoned or moonram pirai).

 

This is a shanthi Karma to ward off the impediments of health and other factors of ageing.

 

Brahma is prominently worshipped in Sathaabhishekam and even in Kumbham Brahma is invoked and after Japa homas, the holy water from the Kumbham is used for performing the abhishekam of the individual .5 Kumbhams are kept. Daanam, Nireekshitha Aajya daanam etc are part of the rituals,

 

Performing of Rudra Ekadasi, Maangalya daaranam, Sumangali Prarthanai etc are performed as per customs prevalent in the family. Nothing is said in the Saastras about this.

 

Since the couple for whom the sathaabhishekam is performed are great by all means as afore said, they are taken in a procession on an elephant or horse drawn chariot or a decorated car along the streets of the village or town with Veda Parayanam and after visiting a temple they