THE EIGHT RITES OF PASSAGE

THE EIGHT RITES OF PASSAGE

ASHTA SAMSKARA

1.  NAMAKARANA  -  Name giving ceremony

This is the hindu-name giving ceremony, performed in home or the temple 11 to 41 days after birth. The father whispers the auspicious new name in the infant ear.

2.  ANNA PRASANA  -  Beginning of solid food

The first feeding of solid food is a sacred event performed by the father in the temple/house. The choice of food offered to a child at this crucial time is said to help determine his or her destiny.

3.  KARNAVEDHA  -  Ear piercing

The ear piercing ceremony, given to both boys and girls, performed in temple/ home, generally on the child's first birthday. Health and wealth benefits derive from this ancient rite.

4.  CHUDAKARANA  -  Head shaving

The head is shaven and smeared with sandalwood paste in this rite performed in the temple or home before the age four. It is a very happy day for the child. the shaven head denotes purity and egolessness.

5.  VIDYARAMBHA  -  Beginning of education

The formal beginning of primary education. In this rite, performed in the temple or home, the child scribes the first letter of the alphabet in a tray of unbroken, uncooked, saffron rice. 

6.  UPANAYANA  -  Sacred thread ceremony

The ceremonial investment of the "sacred thread" and initiation into vedic study, performed in home or temple, usually between the ages of 9 and 15, after which a youth is considered " twice born".

7.  VIVAHA  -  Marriage

The marriage ceremony, performed in a temple or wedding hall around the sacred homa fire. Lifetime vows, vedic prayers and seven steps before God and Gods consecrate the union of husband and wife.

8.  ANTYESHTI  -  Funeral/ last Rites

The funeral rite includes preparation of the body, cremation, home-cleansing and dispersal of ashes. The purifying fire releases the soul from this world that it may journey unhindered to the next. 

TYPES OF HINDU MARRIAGE

TYPES OF HINDU MARRIAGE

There are eight types of marriage described in Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) or Manava Dharma Shastra.

1.  Rites of Brahaman (Brahma) -  Where father of bride invites a man learned in the vedas and a good conduct; and gives his daughter in marriage to him after decking her with jewels and costly garments.

2.  Rites of Gods (Daiva)  -  Where the daughter is groomed with ornaments and given to the priest who duly officiates at a sacrifice during the course of its performance.

3.  Rite of the Rishis (Arsha)  -  When the father gives away his daughter after receiving a cow and a bull from the bridegroom.

4.  Rite of Prajapati (Prajapatya)  -  Where father gives away his daughter after blessing the couple with the text "May both of you perform together your duties".

5.  Rite of Asuras (Demons)  -  When the bridegroom receives a maiden after bestowing wealth to the kins men and to the bride according to his own will.

6.  Rite of Gandharva  -  The voluntary union of a maiden and her lover, which arises from desire and physical relations for its purpose.

7.  Rites of Rakshasa  -  Forcible abduction of a maiden from her home after her kinsmen have been slain or wounded and their houses broken open.

8.  Rite of the Pisacha  -  When a man by stealth seduces a girl who is sleeping or intoxicated or is mentally disbalanced or handicapped.

HINDU RITES AND RITUALS

HINDU RITES AND RITUALS

1.  Ceremonies may be performed during pregnancy to ensure the health of the mother and growing child.

2.  The father may part the hair of the mother three times upward from the front to the back, to assure the ripening of the embryo.

3.  At birth, before the umbilical cord is severed, the father may touch the baby's lips with a gold spoon or ring dipped in honey, curd and ghee.

4.  The word is whispered three times into the right ear, and the mantras are chanted to ensure a long life.

5.  A number of rituals for the infant include the first visit outside to a temple, the first feeding with solid food (usually cooked rice), an ear-piercing ceremony and the first haircut (shaving the head) that often occurs at a temple or during a festival when the hair is offered to a deity.

UPANAYANA

The thread ceremony which takes place for young males between the ages of six and twelve to mark the transition to awareness and adult religious responsibilities.

** Only Brahman, Kshatriya and Vaishya were allowed to wear the thread.

DIFFERENT FORMS OF LORD SHIVA

NATARAJA (LORD OF DANCE)

1.  The two most common forms of dance are:-

    (a)  Tandava (Powerful and masculine dance associated with the destruction 

           of the world)

    (b)  Lasya ( graceful and delicate and express emotions on a gentle level and 

           is considered the feminine dance attributed to goddess Parvati).

2.  These dances are associated with the destruction- creation of the world.

DAKSHINAMURTHY

1.  It is the form of Shiva facing south.

2.  This form represents shiva in his apsect as  a teacher of yoga, music and wisdom and giving exposition on the shastras.

3.  Elements of this motif can include shiva seated upon a deer throne and surrounded by sages who are receiving his instruction.

ARDHANARISHVARA

1.  Representation of shiva shown in one half of the body as male and the other half as female.

2.  It is used to visualize the belief that the lord had sacrificed half of his body to his shakti, the sagun swaroop of Goddess adi shakti, as a sign of this love for her.





TRIPURANTAKA

1.  Shiva is depicted as an archer in the act of destroying the triple fortresses, Tripura of the Asuras.

2.  After destroying Tripura, Tripurantaka Shiva smeared his forehead with three strokes of ashes.

AVATARS OF SHIVA

VIRABHADRA

Born when shiva grabbed a lock of his matted hair and dashed it to the ground. Virabhadra then destroyed Daksha's yajna (fire sacrifice) and severed his head as per Shiva's instructions.

BHAIRAVA

Fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation Bhairava is shown carrying head of Brahma.

SHARABHA

To tame Narasimha the fierce man-lion avatar of Vishnu worshipped by Vaishnava sect- into a normal pleasant form representing harmony.

NATARAJA

Lord of dance is a depiction of god shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation.

DURVASA

Ancient sage, the son of Atri and Anusuya. he is known for his short temper.

HANUMAN

He is identified as eleventh avatar of shiva.

HARIHARA

It is the name of a combined diety of both Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara).

HINDU DEITIES_LORD SHIVA

LORD SHIVA

1. Lord Shiva is the Destroyer or Transformer among the Trimurti.

2. Shiva is one in whom the Universe 'sleeps' in a boundless void after destruction.

3. Shiva is therefore eternal and purest. Shiva is 'The Reality'.

4. Shiva is 'The Consciousness (frees from the bonds of mortal desires).

5. Shiva is 'The Bliss (roots out sin and fear).

6. Shiva is Auspicious (makes the earth religious and an abode of safety and peace).

7. Shiva is a Yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. yet one with great power, he lives a life of a sage at Mount kailash.

8. Shiva is usually worshipped in the abstract form of Shiva Linga.

SHIVA'S ATTRIBUTES

1.  SHIVA'S FORM:   

     

    -  Shiva has a trident in the right lower arm, with a crescent moon on his head.

    -  He is fair like camphor or like an ice clad mountain.

    -  He has a fire and damaru and Mala or a kind of weapon.

    -  He wears five serpents as ornaments.

    -  He wears a garland of skulls.

    -  He faces south.

    -  Panchakshara itself in his body.

2.  Third Eye:   Shiva used his third eye to burn desire (kama) to ashes called 'Tryambakam'.

3.  Crescent Moon:   (Chandrashekhara) Shiva bears on his head the crescent moon.

4.  Ashes (Bhasmaanga Raaga):  Shiva smears his body with ashes.

5.  Matted Hair:   (Jataajoota Dhari) His hair is said to be like molten gold in color or being yellowish-white.

6.  Blue-throat:  (Nilakantha) Shiva drank the halahala poison churned up from the Samudra Manthan to eliminate its destructive capacity. shocked by his act, Goddess parvati strangled his neck and hence managed to stop it in his neck itself  and prevent it from spreading all over the universe supposed to be in Shiva's stomach. However, the poison was so potent that it changed the color of his neck to blue.

7.  Sacred Ganga: (Gangadhara) Ganges river flows from the matted hair of shiva. The flow of Ganges also represents the nectar of immortality.

8.  Tiger skin:  (Krittivasan) He is often upon a tiger skin. Tiger represents lust. His sitting on the tiger's skin indicates, he has concurred lust.

9.  Serpents:  (Nagendra Hara)  Shiva is shown garlanded with a snake. His wearing of serpents on the neck denotes wisdom and eternity.

10.  Deer: His holding deer on one hand indicates that he has removed the chanchalata of mind (ie attained maturity and firmness in thought process). Deer jumps from one place to another swiftly, similar to the mind moving from one thought to another.

11.  Trident:  It represents three Gunas- Sattva, Rajas & tamas ie the emblem of sovereignty. He rules the world through these three Gunas.

12.  Damaru:  A small drum shaped like an hourglass is also known as damaru. It represents the Sabda Brahman. It represents OM from which all languages are formed. It is he who formed the sanskrit language out of the Damru sound.

13.  Nandi:  It is the name of bull that serves as Shiva's mount. Bull is his vehicle. Bull represents Dharma Devta. This denotes that shiva is the protector of Dharma, is an embodiment of Dharma/ righteousness.

14.   Gana:  They are the attendants of shiva and live in kailash. Ganesh was chosen as their leader by Shiva, hence Ganesha's title ' Gana-pati' ie 'lord of Ganas'.

15.  Mount Kailasha: In the himalayas is his traditional abode. It represents a linga, representing the centre of universe.

16.  Varanasi:  It is considered as the city specially loved by Shiva and is one of the holiest places of pilgrimage in India. Also known as Kashi.

SHIVA AS A HOUSEHOLDER

1.  As a family man and householder, he has a wife, Parvati and two sons Ganesha and Kartikeya.

2.  Parvati is identified with Devi, the divine mother, Shakti (divine energy) as well as goddess like Tripura sundari, Durga, Kamakshi and Meenakshi.

3.  The consorts of shiva are the source of his creative energy. They represent the dynamic extension of Shiva onto this universe.

4.  His son Ganesha is worshipped as Remover of obstacles, lord of beginnings.

5.  Kartikeya is worshipped in southern India as Murugan and skanda/ Kartikeya in North India.

HINDU DEITIES_LORD VISHNU

LORD VISHNU

1. Vishnu is the Preserver or Sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth.

2. THE TEN VISHNU AVATARS

    (a) Matsyavatara       -  fish

    (b) Koorma              -  tortoise

    (c) Varaaha              -  Boar

    (d) Narasimha          -  the Man Lion

    (e) Vaamana            -  the Dwarf

    (f)  Parasurama        -  the Angry Man

    (g) Lord Rama         -  The perfect human

    (h) Lord Krishna      -  The Divine Diplomat

                                                       (i)  Balarama            -  Elder brother of Lord Krishna

                                                       (j)  Kalki Avatar      -  Yet to appear

3. VISHNU_AS SYMBOL

    (a)  Sankha(Conch Shell) - Spreads the primordial of OM.

    (b)  Chakra - Reminder of the cycle of time.

    (c)  Lotus/Padma - Stands for a glorious existence.

    (d)  Mace/ Gada - Indictaes punishment for indiscipline.

4. Out of his naval blossoms a lotus, known as Padmanabham. The flower holds Brahma, the God of creation and the embodiment of royal virtues or 'Rajoguna'.

5. The vehicle of Vishnu is the Garuda eagle, the king of the birds.

6. Empowered with the courage and speed to spread the knowledge of the Vedas, Garuda is an assurance of fearlessness at the time of calamity.

7. Vishnu is also known as Narayan & Hari.

8. The devout followers of Vishnu are called  Vaishnavas.

9. Vishnu's consort is Goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and beauty). 

HINDU DEITIES_BRAHMA

HINDU DEITIES

1. Hinduism is known for a multitude of gods and goddesses.

2. Hinduism perceives the whole creation, and its cosmic activity as the work of three fundamental forces symbolised by three gods which constitutes the Hindu Trinity or 'Trimurti':

                -- Brahma - the creator

                -- Vishnu   - the sustainer

                                                                                                    -- Shiva     - the destroyer

BRAHMA, THE CREATOR

3. Brahma is the creator  of the universe and all beings, as depicted in the Hindu cosmology.

4. The Vedas, the oldest and the holiest of Hindu scriptures, are attributed to Brahma, and thus Brahma is regarded as the father of Dharma.

5. Brahma is to be found to exist more in scriptures than in homes and temples.

6. Temple dedicated to Brahma is located in Pushkar (Rajasthan).

BIRTH OF BRAHMA

7. The Shatapatha Brahman says that Brahma was born of the Supreme being Brahman (Almighty God) and the female energy known as Maya.

8. Wishing to create the Universe, Brahman first created the water, in which he placed his seed. This seed transformed into a golden egg, from which Brahma appeared.

9. Brahma is known as 'Hiranyagarbha'.

10. It is also said that Brahma is self-born out of a lotus flower which grew from the naval of Vishnu.

11. In order to help him create the universe, Brahma gave birth to the 11 forefathers of the human race called 'Prajapatis' and the seven great sages or the 'Saptarishi'. These children or mind-sons of Brahma, who were born out of his mind rather than body are called 'Manasputra'.

SYMBOL OF BRAHMA

12. Brahma is represented as having four heads, four arms and red skin.

13. He holds a water-pot, a spoon, a book of prayers or the Vedas, a rosary.

14. he sits on a lotus and moves around a white swan  (possess a magical ability to separate milk from a mixture of water and milk).

15. Brahma presides over 'Brahmaloka' a universe that contains all the splendors of the earth  and all other worlds.

HINDU COSMOLOGY

16. The Universe exists for a single day called the 'Brahmakalpa'. This day is equivalent to 4 billion earths years, at the end of which the whole Universe gets dissolved.

17. This process is called 'Pralaya' which repeats for such 100 years (period that represents Brahma's lifespan).

18. After Brahma's death, its is necessary that another 100 of his years pass until he is reborn and the whole creation begins new.

HINDUISM_AN INSIGHT TO OUR RELIGION

HINDUISM

1. Hinduism is the world's oldest extant religion, with a billion followers, which makes it the world's third largest religion. Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices that originated in India, characterised by belief in reincarnation, one absolute being of multiple manifestations, the law of cause and effect, following the path of righteousness, and the desire for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths.

2. Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma ie the law that governs all action. It has its own beliefs, traditions, advanced system of ethics, meaningful rituals, philosophy and theology.

ORIGIN

3. Its origin in such remote past that it can not be traced to any one individual.

4. Some believe that it must have existed even in circa 10000BC & the earliest of the Hindu scriptures- the Rig Veda- was composed well before 6500BC.

5. The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of River Indus which follows through northern India. In ancient times the river was called the "Sindhu" but the persians who migrated to India called the river, 'Hindu', the land 'Hindustan' and its inhabitants 'Hindus'. Thus the religion followed by the Hindus came to be known as 'Hinduism'.

6. It is considered to be the oldest religion in the history of human civilization.

BASIC TENETS OF HINDUISM

7. Hinduism is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions, in which the prominent themes include:-

         -  Dharma (ethics & duties)

         -  Samsara (rebirth)

         -  Karma (Right action)

         -  Moksha (liberation from the cycle of samsara)

8. It believes in truth, honesty, non-violence, celibacy, cleanliness, contentment, prayers, austerity, preserverance, penance and pious company.