PROCEDURE AND IMPORTANCE OF OUR SIXTEEN SACRAMENTS

Vedic Sacraments

   The main purpose behind performance of sacraments is to eliminate preexisting sins, along with induction of virtues in life and develop one’s personality to its complete extent.  Sanskars act like a road map, or form of guidance, drawing attention to a particular period of development before and after birth, until death.

 The sanskars are the total sum of 3 things:

  The actions of previous births, genetics of parents and family we are born in and the 3^rd and last is the environment we live in, ever since birth.  Actions of past are sanskars of today and actions of today will be the sanskars of tomorrow.  There are a total of sixteen sanskars that have been described. Three are performed before birth, twelve during life, and one after death.  It seems that Upnayaan Sanskar is the most important and commonly performed, besides of course the wedding ceremony and ritual after death. 

  

Before birth -3,       

During life -12,    

After death -1

Here is the brief description of these 16 sanskars:  

1.       Garbhaadhaan Sanskar:

    This should be performed when the married couple decides to have a child. Would be mother should be absorbed in such thoughts, which she would desire her offspring to imbibe & absorb.  There are many obstacles in having a good offspring. These are: attraction to money more than a child, differences in opinion among the would be parents, inability to bear a child etc. According the Aitareya Upanishad, Atharva Veda and Manu Smriti, father is the first mother of an individual. Transfer of seminal fluid transfers the fetus in the mother. There is some discussion insanskar vidhi about the birth of male v/s female child which may be influenced by choosing a specific day for copulation in the menstrual cycle. Minor age mothers are considered bad for the upcoming offspring.

2.       Punsavan Sanskar:

 This is to be performed after 2-3 months of conception.  This is for the good physical development of the fetus.  Punsavan denotes health & vigor of the offspring. There has been some suggestion in literature that by doing this sanskar in a specified way one can secure that the offspring will be of a desired gender but Swami ji does not agree with that ideology.

3.       Seemantonnayan Sanskar:

  This is for the mental development of the child.  This can be performed in 4^th, 6^th, or 8^th month of conception. At this stage the mother is called “Two Hearts”.  Seemantmeans head, skull and the brain in it.  Unnayan means to develop it. Compilers of scriptures believed that the mother is such a mould which can cast the child according to will to a great extent. Mother’s thoughts have a lot of influence on the unborn child. There are many stories to try to prove this point such as story of Abhimanyu, story of Madalsa who converted her 8 sons in to sages through Sanskars, how the killer of president Garfield was born with aggressive Sanskars and it is believed that Napolean became a great warrior because of his mother’s watching the parade of soldiers etc.

The procedure of this sanskar is as follows: First regular havan is performed and then offerings are given with Khichri or a mixture of rice, dal and ghee with recitation of mantras. The wife is praised for her beauty, she is compared to mother earth, which with proper care gives good harvest and similarly all care should be taken for the health of the womb, its nourishment and the physical and mental development of the unborn. Mantras are recited to state that just as for long and healthy life water and medicines are helpful, in a good family life, food and fun should be healthy. The parents of this baby speak that we may have such a child who has divine qualities and is outstanding. Then husband oils the hair of his wife with fragrant oil and combs her hair with some background soothing instrumental music and a mantra is recited which means that our life should be full of peace an tranquility like the moon and our conduct should be limited like the boundaries of the course of a river. Our path of life should be like the calmness of the moon in the sky and cool like the water in the river. Darkness and brightness come in the cycle of the moon and hope and despair come in life but cool and calm should remain with is us.

Finally people bless the mother with the following mantra

Om veersoostvam bhava, jeevasoostvam bhav, jeevapatnee tvam bhava.

That means may you give birth to a brave child and that may you deliver a baby full of mental and physical health.

4.       Jaat-karma Sanskar:

  This is performed at birth.  Baby is cleaned, bathed.  ‘Om’ is symbolically written on the tongue of the newborn with Ghee & Honey.  Also to utter in the ear of the newborn “TwamVedo Asi” which means, “you are a being of wisdom & knowledge.” Purpose of this sanskar is make the child safe, to invoke God and parental promise to guide the child so that he/she will follow the path of spiritualism/dharma.

5.       Naamkaran Sanskar:

  This is performed some time after birth.  Significance of name is to create a positive perception.  Purpose of name is not only to address an individual, but also to present a purpose before the child.  Names should not be difficult to pronounce.  In USA, we have to name the child before discharge from the hospital, which makes it very difficult sometimes to give an appropriate name.  In this Sanskar, after Swishtkrit Aahuti, oblations (Aahuti) are offered for the harmonious development of a child.  The essence of these oblations is “O Child you may have a long life, you be learned, religious, famous, industrious, glorious, charitable & prosperous”.

6.       Nishkraman Sanskar:

  The work nishkraman means to come out. Through the performance of this ceremony, the child can benefit from the cool fresh air and the sunshine, which are of vital significance and gift of nature. While doing so, we seek God’s blessings through the ritual of this sanskar. Today, our environment is quite controlled, we are really not exposed to the elements and therefore this ceremony may be perceived to be of less significance, but in reality, basic human needs of fresh air, water, sunshine and protection have not changed much through the times.

7.       Anna-Praashan Sanskar: 

 Milk is the most complete food known to humanity. However at some point in the first year of life, solid food is introduced to provide the wholesomeness and nutrition to the growing body and mind. Even in the age of science, this introduction of food other than milk is of great significance. Our ancestors have appropriately set a ceremony to be performed when the teething has begun and the child is being weaned from Mother’s milk & solid food is going to be introduced.

8.       Chudaa-Karma (Mundan) Sanskar: 

 Chudaa is the same word as Judaa, which women wear.  This means top covering of the head.  This is to be performed in 1^st to 3^rd year of life, because by this time the skull bones have come together and the brain in more safe.  The significance of this is to draw attention of parents towards the mental and spiritual development of the child. In this ceremony original hair is shaved.

9.       Karna-Vedh Sanskar:

  This is the sanskar in which ears are pierced. Historically, this ceremony was performed for both male and female children. Now it is not performed as a sanskar and the girls simply get their ears pierced by a skilled person for the purpose of wearing jewelry. The original purpose of this sanskar was to protect the child from evil and of course to beautify the face through jewelry. This may be a form of acupuncture practice and to prevent the development of inguinal and umbilical hernia.

The next three Sanskars are Educational Sanskaars. Two are performed at the inception of pursuit of education and one the end of education. This phase of life is designed to take care of Rishi rin and is called Brahmaacharyashram or the stage of celibacy.

10.   Upanayan Sanskar: 

  This marks the start of pursuit of knowledge (That is the knowledge of all three entities, The God, Soul and Nature.  Both boys and girls are entitled to it.  Gobhilya Grihasutramentions in the marriage ceremony that the girl wearing yajjopaveet may be brought near the husband for the ceremony. It is also clear from various quotations in the Vedas that girls were free to study Vedas. Swami Dayanand ji has quoted Athrva-Veda in Satyarth Prakash to prove this point as well. Also Yajurveda has called the women as “stoma-prishthaa” which means the one who inquires and curious to study veda mantra.

This sanskar is performed between 8 to 12 years of age.  Out of all the Sanskars (sacraments) described so far, this is probably the most important one and most widely performed in most if not all religions all over the world.  For examples Parsees call the sacred thread “kushti”.  Muslims call this type of sacrament Bismillaa. Christians perform communion.

Up-means near and Nayan-is to go near the teacher.  Guru or teacher vows and assures the child that “I accept your heart as mine, I accept your mind as mine”(both teacher and student become “EkManah”.  Word for pupil in Sanskrit is “Antey-Vasi”.

Manu ji write in Manu Smriti that all are born Shudras and it is the Sanskaras which make a person “Dwij”. 

Significance of Yajjopaveet: It has three threads. We have three obligations in life:

1. Rishi Rin (debt to rishis)

2. Pitra Rin (debt to parents and elders)

3. Dev Rin (debt to the environment).

The word Devata actually means “one who gives”. Examples of these are, God, other souls, the nature and the Vedic teachings.  The three ashrams of life Brahamacharya, Grihasth and Vaanprasth.These ashrams are designed to take care above three obligations in order listed.

Just to repeat therefore, the three threads remind us of our duties towards all three entities in this universe. These are: God, Souls (ourselves and all other souls) and Nature.

While doing this sanskar, different devatas are invoked and the child takes a vow to follow path of truth and virtue.  Acharya releases water from his palm to the palm of the child, symbolizing learning transfer & then student spreads this knowledge in world.

11.   Vedarambh Sanskar:

   This is really performed along with the Upanayan Sanskar.  Both material & spiritual knowledge are stressed. Here the qualities and conduct of teacher are discussed.  Here Instructions are given by the parents to the child.  Special emphasis is given to the avoidance of anger.

12.   Samaavartan Sanskar:

  This is suppressed to be performed 14 years after the initiation ceremony.  This really is Graduation ceremony.  Here teacher gives instructions to the student just as the parent’s five instructions to the pupil at the time of Vedarambh.

 Although unfortunately, Manu ji is often misquoted and wrongly criticized that some of his teachings are divisive, he has given us explicit guidelines for making life better. One such example is:

“ satyam bruyat, priyam bruyat, na bruyat satyam apriyam

priyam cha naanritam bruyat eshah dharmah sanatanah”(manu 4.138)

Which means: speak the truth and with a pleasing tone, don’t speak the

truth which would hurt someone, but don’t say sweet things which are untrue.

“Maatri Devo Bhava, Pitri Devo Bhava, Acharya Devobhava and Atithi Devo Bhava”

Here Deva are those who posses more knowledge that you.  Pitar are those who are elder to you.

Manu Smriti says that Dharma in not a particular doctrine, it a code of conduct in society which keeps its structure intact.  “swasya-cha Priya-maatmanah” or the call of the inner conscience is to be listened to.  Manu ji also said,”aachaarah parmo dharmah” or the virtuous code of conduct is supreme. It is this, which benefits the individual, society, country and the world. This is Dharma. Actually Manu ji maharaj had identified 10 elements necessary in the life of a person one who practices Dharma. These are Dhritih( patience), ksama (forgiveness), damah( self restrain), asteyam( not to steal),shaucham( cleanliness of body, mind and soul), indriya nigrah(control over one’s senses), dheeh( intellect), vidya(knowledge of nature and spirituality), satyam( truthfullnes), akrodhh( control on anger).

13.   Vivah Sanskar:  

  There are 8 kinds of marriages.  In 4 of these, the father gives away the daughter, and the other 4 are marriages of an inferior category.

A) Father gives away the daughter:

1.      Brahma Vivah: this is the main type of marriage. The 3 main elements of this are acceptance of marriage by the parents, marriage according to proper vedic rituals, and no exchange of a dowry.

2.      Dev Vivah: this is a marriage between the purohit who performed yajna and the daughter of the yajmaan. This was a marriage with splendor, but no dowry.

3.      Aarsh Vivah: here there is some exchange of dowry.

4.      Prajaapatya Vivah: It is almost similar to Brahma Vivah, but no guests are invited.

     B) Inferior Marriages:

1.      Asur Vivah: this is basically selling the girl.

2.      Gandharv Vivah: This is a situation where man and woman live together without marriage basically to fulfill their passions.

3.      Rakshas Vivah: In this, the girl is either kidnapped or abducted (by force).

4.      Pishaach Vivah: This is basically rape. 

While acknowledging the omnipotent God, she says: O, God! Release me from the family of my father, but don’t release me from the family of my husband.

During the ceremony, rice which has not been husked is used.  This symbolizes the growth of the harvested rice when it is replanted, which relates to the bride because she is taken from her home and flourishes in her new home with her husband.

In marriage ceremonies, seven steps are taken (Sapt Padi):

1.      Food.   

2.      Physical Strength  

3.      Wealth   

4.      Happiness  

5.      Offspring

6.   Togetherness in all circumstances and all weather conditions

7.      Friendship, Comradeship.

The significance here is that the couple is convinced that the Grihasthashram is not pure fun and games, you have to work at it.  It is a commitment.  One of the very important mantras recited is:

“Om mama vrite te hridayam dadhaami, mama chittam anu chittam te astu

mama vaacham ek manah, jushasva prajapatishtva niyunaktu mayam,”

Here the couple takes a pledge to conjoin their thoughts and emotions.  The groom takes the vow that:

“I consider it my duty and I take a vow with God as the first witness that I shall fulfill your desires and keep you as a part of my life forever.”

Marriage has been compared to the two eternal stars in the north sky. These are Dhruv and Arundhati.  Both are ever-present and Hence the comparison. The groom is compared to

Dhruv, and the bride to Arundhati, which is right next to it.

Vivah leads to the phase of family life or Grihasthaashram. This is designed to take care of Pitri rin.

14.   Vanprastha Sanskar:

  This is the first stage of detachment from material possessions. In the stage of life one needs to concentrate on those aspects of social service, which were neglected during period of intense family responsibilities in the Grihasthashram. This is designed to pay back or take care of Dev rin.

15.   Sanyas:

   In this next and last stage of life, one is to detach from all actions, where fruit is desired. These are teachings of Vedas, Upanishads and Geeta. In the modern context, it should not really require one to leave home. Here one is to do more of introspection, meditation and social service.

16.   Antyeshti: 

  This is performed after death, where the physical body is offered back to nature with God’s blessings.  The soul leaves the body at the time of death and takes the subtle and causal bodies with it.

After death, Atma(The Devine flame) enters the emptiness of cosmos, and as preordained according to its karma, either takes a new birth or achieves salvation.