Hindus believe that the defining steps in ones life need to be taken as prescribed in the scriptures. This not only delivers spiritual benefits but also instills a sense of responsibility and purpose.
To this end, the ancient sages have short listed sixteen sacraments, known as Shodasha Samskara, that are of prime importance. Nine of these are performed during childhood. The remaining rituals start with the beginning of the education process.
Sacraments Related to Education
Vidyarambha, which translates as the beginning of education, is performed when the child is about to commence formal education. The age prescribed in the scriptures is five years, but today children start going to school much before then. Hence in some families this ritual is performed earlier.
Saraswati, the consort of Brahma, is the Goddess of Learning and she is the principal deity in Vidyarambha Samskara. Sometimes obeisance is paid to Brihaspati who is the preceptor of the demi-Gods. Ganesh is invoked because no religious ritual can be commenced without seeking his blessings. The family deity is also worshipped.
The samskara is conducted by the family priest or a family elder, who acts as the teacher. Holding the child’s hand the teacher scribes a letter or word in a plate filled with unbroken, uncooked, saffron rice. This could be the first letter of the alphabet in the child’s mother tongue or the symbol for the holy word ‘aum’. The child is blessed by the teacher and if the ceremony has been conducted by the priest due donations are offered to him.
In ancient times the Upanayana Samskara was one of the most important religious rituals. When the youth began his study of the Vedas he was given a sacred thread to wear. This investiture classified him as a “twice born” because the commencement of the Vedic education was likened to a second birth.
The sacred thread is prepared and worn exactly as prescribed in the scriptures and mishandling of the sacred thread is considered inauspicious and derogatory. The Brahmins perform the Upanayana ceremony at the age of seven, the Kshatriyas at the age of thirteen and the Vaishyas at the age of seventeen.
The increasing starting age reflects the lesser amount of spiritual education to be imparted to each caste. The Shudras are not given this education and therefore do not perform this samskara. The religious community is divided whether girls should be given Vedic education. More and more Hindus are now in favor of this. The period of Vedic education is also known as Brahmacharya Ashram.
Samskaras Related to Adult Life
After the completion of the Vedic education most students return home to pursue their vocations and get married and lead a family life. The “graduation” ceremony that propels the student from Brahmacharya Ashram to Grahasta (Grihasta) Ashram is known as Samavartana Samskara.
If one ritual has to be identified as the most important of all the Shodasha Samskara then it has to be the wedding ceremony or Vivaha. The wedding ceremony has become a mix of a cultural and a religious ceremony and is performed differently by different Hindu communities.
Very briefly the important components of Vivaha Samskara are as follows: Kanyadaan or giving the bride away, Paanigrahan in which the groom holds the bride’s hand as a commitment of lifelong support, Lajahuti which are the 64 sacrificial offerings for 64 different purposes in life, Mangal Phera or the seven circumambulations around the sacrificial fire and Saptapadi or exchanging the seven vows.
As per the scriptures the husband and wife are required to perform a daily ritual that honors the ancient sages, the gods, the ancestors, humankind and all created beings. Since five entities are worshipped this samskara is known as Panchamahayagna Samskara. In today’s hectic life this is not possible and several short cuts are practiced.
After leading the householder’s life to the full, the couple moves to the third of the Ashram or Life Stages, which is known as Vanaprastha Samskara. With due ceremony, the couple leaves the material world and moves to the forest to spend the remainder of the time in solitude and meditation. In practice the elders enter a retired life and leave all decisions to their children.
Antyeshti or Funeral Rites
Antyeshti means the final sacrament. Hindus cremate the dead. The fire releases the five elements that make up the body to their original form and the soul is released for rebirth to another body. The famous verse from the Bhagavad Gita says that just as we change clothes, the soul moves from one body to the next. The Antyeshti should be performed by dusk or by dawn, whichever occurs first. Three days later the son collects the ashes and places them in the Ganga or another sacred river.
Much has been made in many forums of whether the Hindu system of cremation is better or worse than the system of burial. This is a perverse and divisive debate. Both systems evolved independently based on the conveniences in the respective early societies and each needs to be respected by the other faction.
Resources:
Shodasha Samskara; Hinduism.suite101.com
The Four Ashrams or Life Stages; Hinduism.suite101.com
Neria Harish Hebbar; Customs and Classes of Hinduism; Boloji.com
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