Vaidika Samskaras

Om, Sri gurubhyo namaha

Vaidika Samskaras Dr. S. Yegnasubramanian 1. Introduction

teachings to be useful to humankind, our Rishis, through their inquiry, extracted the vedic wisdom, like extracting a precious metal from the ore! Consequently, a new family of l i t e r a t u r e k n o w n a s Sootras ( c r y p t i c statements) - emerged, such as, the Strouta sutras, grihya sootras, dharma sootras etc. Since the sootras themselves were abstract, commentaries on these sootras were given by Rishis in the form of smritis, s u c h a s , YAjnavalkhya smriti, ParAsara smriti, etc. The term smriti refers to a ‘remembered idea’ (from the vedas). Later, itihAsas (RaAmAyanNa and MahAbhArata) and purANas (BhAgavatam SkAndam etc.) were written in the form of personified stories, to make these concepts understandable to common people.

Over the ages, humankind has always strived to reach perfection and to explore the ultimate Truth. In this quest, every religion has some unique features. Some of the unique features characteristic of the Hindu Faith or sanAtana dharma are: ·The concept of God as the very creation itself. For example we come across passages like,

&U”p;d;w ySy n;i&”.; i]&uvnvpuW’ iv-,umIx’ nm;im .; and

a;p;t;{ön&” Sql;Ntö&uvnöb[„;;@R7S7\ LSW2 ¦ u  ZKLFK FDQ EH DFFRPSOLVKHG LQ WKH PDUULHG OLIH RQO\ $OVR WKH GHYD5L1D LV UHPRYHG WKURXJK \DMQDV ZKLFK DOVR FDQ EH SHUIRUPHG RQO\ E\ D JULKDVWKD 6LQFH WKH PDUULHG OLIH DORQH HQDEOHV RQH WR SXUVXH WKHVH GK$UPLF HQGHDYRUV WKH PDUULDJH IXOILOOV WKH GKDUPD SXUXVK$UWKD DOVR )URP WKH PRNVKD SXUXVK$UWKD SRLQW RI YLHZ DOVR PDUULHG OLIH SOD\V DQ LPSRUWDQW UROH VLQFH LW FDQ OHDG WR FLWWD6XGGKL YLYHND YDLU$J\D PLQG DQG VHQVH FRQWURO PDWXULW\ HWF ZKLFK DUH 

*LUOV DUH UHIHUUHG E\ WKHLU DJH DV IROORZV

YLY$KD 7KLV LQYROYHV IRUFHIXO DEGXFWLRQ RI WKH JLUO ZLWKRXW WKH NQRZOHGJH RI SDUHQWV DQG ZLWKRXW WKH JLUO·V FRQVHQW

D±Y:5 YHWÁ JZU,  $JH  ± *RZU, QYY:5 WX URLK,

 $JH  ± 5RKL1,

,Q U$NVKDVD YLY$KD WKH JLUO LV WDNHQ ZLWKRXW WKH NQRZOHGJH RI WKH SDUHQWV EXW ZLWK WKH JLUO·V FRQVHQW

G[Y:5 YHWÁ N1\  $JH   NDQ\$ LH PDUULDJHV ZHUH SHUIRUPHG DERXW  \HDUV RI DJH IRU WKH JLUO ,I RQH FDQ GLYLGH WKH ZKROH OLIH  \HDUV LQ WR IRXU SDUWV a WKH ILUVW TXDUWHU RI  \HDUV LV VSHQW LQ JXUXNXODP 6R RQH FDQ VD\ WKDW WKH PDUULDJH FRXOG EH EHWZHHQ WKH DJHV RI  WR  ,W ZDV UHFRPPHQGHG WKDW WKH JLUO VKRXOG EH \RXQJHU LQ DJH WKDQ WKH ER\ $FFRUGLQJ WR $\XUYHGD

,Q $VXUD YLY$KD WKH SDUHQWV DJUHH WR JLYH WKH JLUO DZD\ LQ PDUULDJH LQ UHWXUQ IRU PRQH\ RU RWKHU ZHDOWK ZLWK D VHOILVK PRWLYH ,Q J$QGKDUYD YLY$KDWKH ER\ DQG JLUO ORYH HDFK RWKHU DQG PDUU\ ZLWKRXW WKH NQRZOHGJH RI WKH SDUHQWV LH WKH JLIW LWVHOI ZDONV DZD\

EONR5 KRP8P£ EO6@, LQP5ORGNPÁ U@Z ,U1Q XL.W£ D\XY52Lšw LGQH LGQH

$OO WKHVH IRXU NLQGV RI PDUULDJHV DUH QRW DOORZHG E\ WKH 6DVWUDV

DQG WKH RSSRVLWH EHLQJ

Y2šNR5 S>HW8P£ Y2š6@, S/YORGNPÁ U@Z G"\1Q XL.W£ D\Xw ,u LGQH LGQH

$PRQJ WKH W\SHV RI PDUULDJHV WKDW DUH DOORZHG E\ WKH 6DVWUDV GDLYD YLY$KD LV RQH ZKHUH WKH IDWKHU JHWV KLV GDXJKWHU PDUULHG WR D SULHVW IRU SHUIRUPLQJ DQ \DMQD

$OVR HDUO\ PDUULDJH HQDEOHV HDVLHU DGMXVWPHQW ZLWK WKH QHZ IDPLO\

$UVKD YLY$KD LV RQH ZKHUH WKH IDWKHU UHFHLYHV PDWHULDOV ODQG PRQH\ FRZV HWF IRU SHUIRUPLQJ DQ \DMQD 6LQFH WKH IDWKHU JHWV VRPH WKLQJ LQ UHWXUQ LW LV QRW FRQVLGHUHG NDQ\$ G$QDP

 7\SHV RI 0DUULDJHV 2XU DQFHVWRUV GLYLGHG PDUULDJH EURDGO\ LQ WR HLJKW FDWHJRULHV 7KH\ DUH        

EU$KPD YLY$KD SU$M$SDW\D YLY$KD GDLYD YLY$KD DDUVKD YLY$KD JDDQGKDUYD YLY$KD DDVXUD YLY$KD U$NVKDVD YLY$KD SDL6$FD YLY$KD

,Q SU$M$SDW\D YLY$KD FRQGLWLRQV UHODWHG WR WKH ULJKWV RI WKH SUDM$ SURJHQ\ DUH GHPDQGHG OLNH WKDW RI 6DW\DYDWL·V IDWKHU WR %KLVKPD  %U$KPD YLY$KD LV WKH LGHDO RQH ZLWKRXW DQ\ FRQGLWLRQV DQG ZLWKRXW H[SHFWLQJ DQ\ PDWHULDO EHQHILW LQ UHWXUQ

$PRQJ WKHVH WKH ILUVW IRXU RQO\ DUH DFFHSWHG E\ WKH 6DVWUDV $PRQJ WKRVH WKDW DUH DFFHSWHG EU$KPDYLY$KD LV RI WKH KLJKHVW SULRULW\ ZKLFK LV LQ SUDFWLFH JHQHUDOO\ LQ ,QGLD WRGD\

 +RZ GLG ¶GRZU\· FRPH LQ D PDUULDJH" 2QH RI WKH HYLOV RI WKH +LQGX PDUULDJH V\VWHP LQ SUDFWLFH IRU TXLWH VRPH WLPH LV WKH SUREOHP RI ¶GRZU\· ZKHUH PRQH\ PDWHULDO HWF DUH GHPDQGHG IURP WKH EULGHJURRP·V VLGH :KDW ZDV VDLG LQ WKH 6$VWUDV JRW PXWLODWHG RYHU WLPH DQG WRRN WKH VKDSH RI WKLV GHPRQLF SUDFWLFH

/HW XV ILUVW GLVFXVV WKRVH W\SHV RI PDUULDJHV ZKLFK DUH QRW DSSURYHG E\ WKH 6DVWUDV ,Q WKLV FDWHJRU\ WKH ZRUVW LV WKH SDL6$FD

$FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 6$VWUDV ZKHQHYHU DQ\ JLIW 

LV JLYHQ JROG RU PRQH\ DOVR VKRXOG EH JLYHQ DORQJ ZLWK (YHQ ZKHQ VRPH RQH LV IHG ZLWK D VXPSWXRXV PHDO WKH 6$VWUDV VXJJHVW D EKRMDQD GDNVKL1$ WR EH JLYHQ EDVHG RQ RQH·V DIIRUGDELOLW\ 6LQFH WKH ER\ LV JLYHQ WKH G$QDP RI WKH JLUO GXULQJ PDUULDJH WKH JLUO·V IDWKHU JLYHV ZKDWHYHU KH FDQ DV YDUDGDNVKL1$ :KDWHYHU ZDV RULJLQDOO\ PHDQW WR EH YROXQWDU\ DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH DIIRUGDELOLW\ RI WKH EULGH·V IDWKHU ² YDUD GDNVKL1$ ² JRW PXWLODWHG WR WKH WHUULEOH SUDFWLFH RI GRZU\ ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH SDUHQWV WKHPVHOYHV RXW RI ORYH RI WKHLU FKLOG JLYH D ORW RI JLIWV WR WKH ER\ DQG WKH IDPLO\ ZKLFK DUH FDOOHG 6U,GKDQDP :KDW ZDV RULJLQDOO\ PHDQW WR EH JLYHQ RXW RI ORYH JRW WUDQVIRUPHG WR WKH WHUULEOH SUDFWLFH RI GHPDQGLQJ ZHDOWK DQG PDWHULDOV RI DOO NLQG ODWHU XQGHU WKH QDPH RI 6U,GKDQDP

DV LQ WKH XSDQD\DQD FHUHPRQ\ ,Q FDVH RI PDUULDJH WKH JXUX LV VXSSRVHG WR EH WKH KXVEDQG KLPVHOI DQG WKH JLUO LV LQ WKH SODFH RI WKH VWXGHQW %\ QRZ WKH ER\ ZKR ZHQW WKURXJK WKH SXULILFDWLRQ ULWHV GXULQJ KLV XSDQD\DQDP VKRXOG KDYH SUDFWLFHG WKH DXVWHULWLHV RI D EUDKPDF$U, DQG EHFRPH HOLJLEOH WR EH D JXUX RYHU WKH \HDUV WUXH LQ WKRVH GD\V DW OHDVW  :KHQ WKH KXVEDQG LV YLHZHG DV JXUX LW LV QRW WR EH YLHZHG DV DQ\ VXSHULRULW\ RU LQIHULRULW\ EHLQJ SRUWUD\HG (DFK RQH FRPSOLPHQWV DQG VXSSRUWV WKH RWKHU LQ VHYHUDO ZD\V 7KDW LV ZK\ WKH ZLIH LV FDOOHG VDKDGKDUPDF$UL1, +HU SXULILFDWLRQ RU FLWWD6XGGKL UHVXOWV IURP KHU VXSSRUW WR KLP LQ WKH FRQGXFW RI WKH ULWXDOV RI D JULKDVWKD DQG KLV FLWWD6XGGKL UHVXOWV IURP WKH VLQFHUH SHUIRUPDQFH RI WKH ULWXDOV IRU WKH ZHOIDUH RI KLV IDPLO\ 6R ERWK FDQ EHFRPH HOLJLEOH WR UHDFK WKH ILQDO JRDO RI $WPDMQ$QDP

 0DUULDJH 5LWXDOV 0RVW RI WKH PDUULDJH ULWXDOV DUH FHQWHUHG DURXQG WKH EULGH 0RVW RI WKH ULWXDOV JLYHQ KHUH DUH IURP D 6RXWK ,QGLDQ ² 7DPLO %UDKPLQ ZHGGLQJ (YHQ WKRXJK VRPH RI WKH SUDFWLFHV PD\ YDU\ LQ WKH RWKHU SDUWV RI ,QGLD DQG DPRQJ RWKHU FRPPXQLWLHV WKH JHQHUDO VSLULW XQGHUO\LQJ D YHGLF ZHGGLQJ LV WKH VDPH

$PRQJ WKH YDULRXV ULWXDOV VRPH RI WKHP DUH RI YDLGLND VLJQLILFDQFH DV JLYHQ LQ WKH VFULSWXUHV DQG VRPH RI WKHP DUH RI ODXNLND VLJQLIFDQFH IDPLO\ WUDGLWLRQV  SUDFWLFHV ZKLFK DUH QRW JLYHQ LQ WKH VFULSWXUHV $FWXDOO\ WKHUH LV D VD\LQJ YLY$KH FD VPD6$QH FD YULGGK$Q$P VWU,1$P FD YDFDQDP NXU\X ZKLFK LPSOLHV WKDW LQ PDWWHUV RI PDUULDJH RU GHDWK WDNH WR WKH VD\LQJV RI WKH HOGHU ODGLHV RI WKH IDPLO\ &HUHPRQLHV OLNH ¶QDODQJX· EUHDNLQJ RI ¶DSSD/DP· SDFFDKLSRGL HWF SRSXODU DPRQJ WDPLO PDUULDJHV  FRPH XQGHU WKH FDWHUJRU\ RI ODXNLND FHUHPRQLHV

7KH PDMRULW\ RI WKH PDQWUDV UHFLWHG GXULQJ D ZHGGLQJ FHUHPRQ\ FRXOG EH EURDGO\ GLYLGHG LQ WR WKUHH JURXSV O

O

O

IRU SXULILFDWLRQ RI WKH JLUO ER\·V SXULILFDWLRQ FHUHPRQ\ LV WKH XSDQD\DQDP DQG WR IUHH IURP SUREOHPV

7KH ILUVW ODXNLND ULWXDO LV WKH HQJDJHPHQW FHUHPRQ\ RU QL6FD\DW$PERRODP ,Q WKLV FHUHPRQ\ WKH Y$NG$QDP LV JLYHQ UHJDUGLQJ WKH RIIHULQJ RI WKH JLUO WR WKH ER\ 7KH SUDYDUDP RI WKH ER\ DQG WKH JLUO DUH JLYHQ LQ DQ DVVHPEO\ RI SHRSOH RI ERWK WKH IDPLOLHV DQG JD1DSDWL S8M$ HWF DUH SHUIRUPHG

DV DGYLFH DV WR WKH GR·V DQG GRQ·WV DIWHU PDUULDJH SUD\HUV IRU IXWXUH ZHOIDUH

:K\ SXULI\ WKH EULGH" 0DUULDJH FHUHPRQ\ IRU WKH JLUO LV VLPLODU WR WKH XSDQD\DQDP FHUHPRQ\ IRU WKH ER\ $FWXDOO\ VHYHUDO RI WKH ULWXDOV OLNH PDXQM,EDQGKDQD DVP$U2KD1D HWF DUH WKH VDPH

$QRWKHU ODLNLND FHUHPRQ\ LV WKH M$QXY$VDV FHUHPRQ\ ZKHUH WKH EULGHJURRP LV WDNHQ LQ D 

FHUHPRQLRXV SURFHVVLRQ 7KHUH DUH YDULDWLRQV RI WKLV SUDFWLFH LQ YDULRXV UHJLRQV

SODQN ² V\PEROLF RI WKH PDUULHG OLIH 7KH VZLQJ JRHV WKURXJK XSV DQG GRZQV DQG VR LV OLIH ,W LV WR UHDVVXUH HDFK RWKHU WKDW WKH\ ZLOO EH WRJHWKHU LQ DQ\ VXFK VZLQJ LQ UHDO OLIH 7KH FKDLQ RI WKH VZLQJ LV V\PEROLF RI NDUPD ZKLFK DORQH LV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH XSV DQG GRZQV 7KH SODQN RI OLIH ZKLFK VZLQJV DQG FKDQJHV LV FRQQHFWHG E\ WKH VKDIW DW WKH WRS IURP ZKLFK WKH VZLQJ KDQJV  ZKLFK UHPDLQV VWDWLRQDU\ DQG GRHV QRW FKDQJH 7KH VKDIW UHSUHVHQWV %UDKPD ZKLFK LV WKH XOWLPDWH VXSSRUW

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

 NDQ\DN$G$QDP  RIIHULQJ WKH JLUO 7KLV LV WKH ILUVW LPSRUWDQW ULWXDO LQ D PDUULDJH 7KH UHFHLYHU QDPHO\ WKH EULGHJURRP LV FRQVLGHUHG DV /RUG 9LVKQX DQG VR WKH JLYHU RIIHUV WKH JLUO ZLWK ,VZDUDDUSD1DEXGGKL  %HFDXVH WKH EULGHJURRP LV FRQVLGHUHG DV /RUG Q$UD\D1D WKH JLUO·V IDWKHU ZDVKHV KLV IHHW DQG PDNHV WKH IROORZLQJ VWDWHPHQW

 YDUDSU(VKD1DP $FWXDOO\ PRVW RI WKH ZHGGLQJ PDQWUDV DUH IURP WKH ULJYHGD 7KH FRQWH[W LQ WKH ULJYHGD ZDV WKH PDUULDJH EHWZHHQ VXU\$ WKH GDXJKWHU RI WKH 6XQ JRG DQG WKH 0RRQ JRG 6RPD 7KH VDPH PDQWUDV DUH FKDQWHG WRGD\ SUD\LQJ WR DOO WKH GHLWLHV IRU D VXFFHVVIXO ZHGGLQJ HWF

G6\LP LYYH WX!\u E>gORN LMJ,:\

N1\u NQNVuS1Qu NQN U 8L:Wu

, RIIHU WKH JLUO ZKR LV HQGRZHG ZLWK JROG ZHDULQJ JROG RUQDPHQWV WR \RX WKH 0DK$YLVK1X IRU PH WR DWWDLQ EUDKPDORND  $ WLQJH RI VHOILVKQHVV ² WR DWWDLQ EUDKPDORND LV DOVR H[KLELWHG HYHQ WKRXJK WKLV LV D G$QDP $OVR

 ([FKDQJH RI JDUODQGV 7KLV LV DQRWKHU ODXNLND ULWXDO ZLWK QR PDQWUDV HWF EXW KDV D EHDXWLIXO VLJQLILFDQFH 7KH JDUODQG RI IORZHUV LV V\PEROLF RI Y$VDQ$ ² DQG VWDQGV FORVH WR WKH KHDUW ZKHQ ZRUQ 6R WKH ER\·V JDUODQG V\PEROL]HV KLV Y$VDQ$V DQG WKH JLUO·V KHU Y$VDQ$V ,I WKH\ VWLFN WR HDFK RWKHU·V Y$VDQ$V RQO\ HYHQ DIWHU WKH ZHGGLQJ WKHUH ZLOO EH QR URRP IRU DGMXVWPHQW DQG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ DW DOO %\ WKH H[FKDQJH RI JDUODQGV HDFK LV H[SUHVVLQJ WKHLU ZLOOLQJQHVV WR VKDUH DQG DGMXVW VR WKDW WKH PDUULDJH VWD\V IRUHYHU

LY;Yu Uw VY5 8Ww VL w VY5GHYWw

(Pu N1\u S>G6\LP LSWÊu WU\ F , RIIHU WKLV JLUO ZLWK WKH ZLWQHVV RI DOO WKH EHLQJV DQG DOO WKH GHLWLHV VR WKDW WKURXJK EHJHWWLQJ FKLOGUHQ  WKH ER\·V DQFHVWRUV ZLOO EH SURWHFWHG N1\H PPJ>WR 8\w N1\H PH GHLY S;Y5Ww

N1\H PH VY5WR 8\w 7Y¶šQWÁ PR P3QX\PÁ 2 JLUO FRPH WR P\ IURQW WR P\ VLGH DQG DOO DURXQG E\ RIIHULQJ \RX PD\ , DWWDLQ PRNVKD  6R LW ZDV EHOLHYHG WKDW D JULKDVWKD DOVR FRXOG DWWDLQ PRNVKD E\ SURSHU IROORZLQJ RI WKH $6UDPD

 7KH 6ZLQJ 7KLV LV DQRWKHU ODXNLND ULWXDO 7KH ER\ DQG WKH JLUO VLW WRJHWKHU RQ D ZRRGHQ 

$OO WKH DERYH PDQWUDV DUH UHFLWHG E\ WKH JLUO·V IDWKHU DQG WKH RIIHULQJ LV GRQH V\PEROLFDOO\ E\ SRXULQJ ZDWHU KROGLQJ D FRFRQXW E\ WKH IDWKHU

ZKLFK VKH JRW FXUHG ,Q PDUULDJHV WKLV ULWXDO LV SHUIRUPHG WR UHPRYH DQ\ SK\VLFDO RU PHQWDO LOOQHVV $ JROG SLHFH LV NHSW LQ WKH ZKROH RI WKH VKDIW IRU SXULILFDWLRQ ZKLFK ODWHU LV PDGH LQWR P$QJDO\DP $FWXDOO\ WKHUH LV QR UHIHUHQFH WR P$QJDO\DP LQ WKH 9HGDV 7KH LGHD RI DOO WKHVH ULWXDOLVWLF SUD\HUV LV IRU WKH JLUO WR EH IUHH IURP DQ\ HYLO LQIOXHQFH DQG WR VWD\ KHDOWK\

7KH EULGHJURRP UHFLWHV D IHZ PDQWUDV ZKHQ KH UHFHLYHV WKH G$QDP VHHNLQJ WKH KHOS RI WKH GHLWLHV WR KHOS KLP LQ SURWHFWLQJ WKH EULGH DQG WR WUHDW KHU SURSHUO\ $OVR VLQFH WKH IDWKHULQODZ LV HOGHU WR KLP LI KH SURVWUDWHV WR WKH ER\ WKH ER\·V SX1\D ZLOO GHWHULRUDWH DQG VR WKH ER\ NHHSV RQ UHFLWLQJ VHYHUDO SUD\HUV )ROORZLQJ WKLV WKHUH LV PDGKXSDUND S8M$ ,Q ROGHQ GD\V D FRZ S8M$ ZDV DOVR GRQH WR LQGLFDWH WKH SURWHFWLRQ RI FRZV

 Q8WDQDYDVWUDGK$UD1DP  ZHDULQJ QHZ FORWKHV 7KH PDQWUDV DUH VLPLODU WR ZKDW DUH UHFLWHG GXULQJ WKH XSDQD\DQD FHUHPRQ\ 7KH JLUO ZHDUV QHZ FORWKHV ZLWK SUD\HUV WR ,QGUD IRU KHDOWK DXVSLFLRXVQHVV QREOH FKLOGUHQ HWF

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

 P$QJDO\DGK$UD1DP  W\LQJ WKH P$QJDO\DP RU PDQJDOD V8WUDP  7KLV LV WKH VHFRQG LPSRUWDQW ULWXDO DQG QRW D YDLGLND NDUPD 7KH IROORZLQJ VORND QRW D YHGD PDQWUD LV UHFLWHG DQG D WKUHDG FRQWDLQLQJ WKH JROG P$QJDO\DP LV WLHG WR WKH QHFN RI WKH EULGH PuJ/\W1WXQQHQ PP M,YQØKHWXQ 

NH E"QLP VX JH 7Yu M,Y [UGw [WPÁ  DQHQ PuJ/\W1WXQ

E\ WKLV P$QJDO\D VWULQJ

PP M,YQØKHWXQ

ZKLFK LV P\ OLIHVWUHQJWK

:LWK WKDW

7KH JLUO PD\ FU\ GXH WR WKH WKRXJKW RI OHDYLQJ KHU SDUHQWV 6LQFH LW LV FRQVLGHUHG LQDXVSLFLRXV WR FU\ LQ VXFK D KDSS\ RFFDVLRQ RQH PDQWUD LV FKDQWHG UHTXHVWLQJ WKH JLUO QRW WR FU\ WR WKLQN RI SRVLWLYH WKLQJV LQ OLIH WR DVN IRU EOHVVLQJV KXPLOLW\ HWF

NH E"QLP

, WLH RQ \RXU QHFN

VX JH

2 VXPDQJDOL

7Yu M,Y [UGw [WPÁ

\RX OLYH  \HDUV

7KH ER\ SXWV D NQRW ER\·V VLVWHU DQG RWKHU IDPLO\ PHPEHUV SXW WZR PRUH NQRWV DPLGVW WKH FKDQWLQJ RI PDQWUDV DQG WKH VRXQG RI PXVLFDO LQVWUXPHQWV

 3ORXJK ² 6\PEROLF RI WZR EXOOV FRQQHFWHG E\ WKLV ZRRGHQ GHYLFH IRU WKHP WR ZRUN WRJHWKHU IRU DFFRPSOLVKLQJ OLIH·V WDVN ERWK WKH KXVEDQG DQG ZLIH VKRXOG ZRUN WRJHWKHU 7KLV ULWXDO LV EDVHG RQ D VWRU\ IURP WKH 5LJ YHGD ZKHUH D JLUO QDPHG DEDO$ KDG D FHUWDLQ GLVHDVH DQG VR FRXOG QRW EH PDUULHG 6KH SUD\HG WR ,QGUD ZKR NHSW WKH ZKHHO RI D FKDULRW RQ KHU KHDG DQG NHSW WKH ZRRGHQ VKDIW DERYH LW +H WKHQ SRXUHG ZDWHU RYHU WKH JLUO WKURXJK WKH VKDIW DQG ZKHHO DIWHU

 PDXQMHHEDQGKDQDP  W\LQJ D EHOW RI PXQMD JUDVV 7KH QH[W LPSRUWDQW ULWXDO LV WR WLH D EHOW PDGH RI PXQMD JUDVV DURXQG WKH ZDLVW RI WKH EULGH E\ WKH EULGHJURRP 7KLV ULWXDO LV VLPLODU WR WKH XSDQD\DQD ULWXDO GLVFXVVHG LQ D SUHYLRXV DUWLFOH 7KLV LV LPSRUWDQW VLQFH KDYLQJ JRW SXULILHG WKH JLUO LV OHG WR WKH ILUH IRU SHUIRUPLQJ 

ILUH UHODWHG ULWXDOV RQO\ DIWHU WKLV ULWXDO

6WDJH  ² \HDUV ² DJQL

 S$1LJUDKD1DP  KROGLQJ WKH KDQG  /HDGLQJ WR WKH ILUH WKH ER\ DGGUHVVHV WKH JLUO

7KHUH DUH RWKHU SUD\HUV DOVR 7R JRGGHVV VDUDVZDW, IRU DXVSLFLRXVQHVV WR WKH ZLQGJRG Y$\X IRU ORYH HWF

J2KQÁ J&] J2KS7Q, Û YÜ %H P\ PLVWUHVV

 VDSWDSDG, VHYHQ VWHSV 7KLV LV WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW ULWXDO LQ WKH PDUULDJH (YHQ LI DOO RWKHU ULWXDOV DUH DEULGJHG DV LQ WKH FDVH RI PRGHUQ GD\ PDUULDJHV   WKLV ULWXDO VKRXOG QRW EH VNLSSHG $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 6DVWUDV

YL[Q, Y  EH RQH ZKR NHHSV WKH IDPLO\ XQGHU FRQWURO LYGTu DYGLV 

JLYH VXJJHVWLRQV WR SHUIRUP QREOH NDUPD

5HFLWLQJ WKH DERYH PDQWUDV WKH ER\ KROGV WKH KDQG RI WKH JLUO DQG OHDGV KHU WR WKH DJQL NX1'D 7KLV ULWXDO LV PRVW LPSRUWDQW VLQFH WKLV LV WKH ILUVW WLPH WKDW WKH FRXSOH FRPH LQ SK\VLFDO FRQWDFW 7KHUH DUH ORW RI GHWDLOV JLYHQ DV WR KRZ WR KROG WKH KDQG HWF

QRGNHQ Q YF Y N1\\w SLW|&\WH SLJ>KVu6NUWÁ SLW7Yu V3WPH SGH

Q ‘GNHQ  QRW E\ NDQ\$ G$QDP JLYLQJ ZDWHU Q YF Y  RU QRW E\ Y$JG$QDP ² QL6FLW$UWKDP RQH EHFRPHV D KXVEDQG  SLW

DT6\Z GL HQ Q,F K6WHQ GL PX7WQu K6Wu

SLJ>KØVu6NUQ1WUPÁ V3WPH SGH $Y

J2l,\WÁ  %\ KLV ULJKW KDQG WKH EULGHJURRP VKRXOG KROG WKH ULJKW KDQG RI WKH JLUO IDFLQJ XS LQFOXGLQJ DOO KHU ILQJHUV $FFRUGLQJ WR $SDVWKDPED VXWUD

SLW7Yu YLW  %XW DIWHU S$1LJUDKD1DP RQO\ ZKHQ WKH WK VWHS LV GRQH RQH EHFRPHV D KXVEDQG $IWHU WKH WK VWHS ZKDW KDSSHQV"

\LG NP\HW 6@,UHY MQ\H\u (LW D•XO,UHY

)LUVW WKH JLUO·V JRWUD JRHV DZD\ 6KH NHHSV VHYHQ VWHSV DORQJ ZLWK WKH KXVEDQG (DFK VWHS KDV D SUD\HU IRU LGHDO PDUULDJH $OO VWHSV KDYH D FRPPRQ HQGLQJ H[SUHVVLRQ 

J2!l,\WÁ  LI GDXJKWHUV DORQH DUH GHVLUHG DOO ILQJHUV H[FHSW WKH WKXPE VKRXOG EH KHOG DQG

LYXw 7Y D1YHWX /HW 9LVKQX FRPH DORQJ ZLWK \RX  EHKLQG \RX

\LG NP\HW SXuVw $Y MQ\H\u (LW D•X°PHY J2!l,\WÁ  LI PDOH FKLOGUHQ DUH GHVLUHG WKHQ RQO\ WKH WKXPE VKRXOG EH KHOG ,I FKLOGUHQ RI ERWK JHQGHUV DUH GHVLUHG DOO ILQJHUV VKRXOG EH KHOG

6WHS  $Nu (:H Ø LYXw 7Y D1YHWX  IRU SURYLGLQJ IRRG OHW 9LVKQX EH ZLWK \RX

$W WKLV WLPH WKH EULGHJURRP VHHNV SHUPLVVLRQ IURP WKUHH GHLWLHV EHIRUH WDNLQJ WKH JLUO QDPHO\  VRPD  JDQGKUDYD DQG  DJQL

6WHS  H ’M5H Ø LYX 7Y D1YHWX  IRU JLYLQJ SK\VLFDO DQG PHQWDO HQHUJ\ SRZHU OHW 9LVKQX EH ZLWK \RX

$FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 6DVWUDV HDFK VWDJH LQ D JLUO·V JURZWK DQG GHYHORSPHQW LV SUHVLGHG E\ D SDUWLFXODU GHLW\

6WHS  @,L Y>W\ Ø LYXw 7Y D1YHWX  IRU WKH VDNH RI SHUIRUPLQJ YDULRXV DXVWHULWLHV OHW 9LVKQX EH ZLWK \RX

6WDJH   WR  \HDUV ²VRPD PRRQ JRG

6WHS  F7YLU P\R Y\ØLYXw 7Y D1YHWX  IRU WKH VDNH RI KDSSLQHVVSHDFH RI PLQG OHW 9LVKQX EH ZLWK \RX

6WDJH   \HDUV ² JDQGKDUYD



6WHS  SŠ S[X!\w Ø LYXw 7Y D1YHWX  IRU WKH VDNH RI FDWWOH ZHDOWK SURVSHULW\ HWF OHW 9LVKQX EH ZLWK \RX

7KLV FRQFOXGHV WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW ULWXDO LQ WKH PDUULDJH QDPHO\ VDSWDSDG,  YLY$KD KRPD  WKH PDUULDJH KDYDQ  7KLV LV DQRWKHU LPSRUWDQW ILUH ULWXDO LQ ZKLFK VHYHUDO LWHPV DUH SUD\HG IRU ZLWK VL[WHHQ PDQWUDV VXFK DV ZLIH·V ZHOOEHLQJ FKLOGUHQ KHDOWK IUHHGRP IURP H[WHUQDO IRUFHV GHVWUXFWLRQ RI DOO VLQV HWF 6RPH DUH DOVR UHSHWLWLYH ,W LV DOVR FXVWRPDU\ WR JR DURXQG WKH ILUH )ROORZLQJ DUH VRPH RI WKH LPSRUWDQW PDQWUDV

6WHS  :#Á ¦WX!\wØLYXw 7Y D1YHWX  IRU WKH VDNH RI WKH VL[ VHDVRQV OHW 9LVKQX EH ZLWK \RX 6WHS  V3W V3W!\wØKR@!\wØLYXw 7Y D1YHWX IRU WKH VDNH RI SULHVWV WR GR ULWXDOV OHW 9LVKQX EH ZLWK \RX $IWHU VDSWDSDGL WKH UHODWLRQVKLS LV PDGH ILUP VR KROGLQJ KHU KDQG WKH KXVEDQG DGGUHVVHV KHU

S> (Ww PX u F LW Q DPX W w  /HW KHU FXW RII WKH UHODWLRQVKLS IURP WKDW IDPLO\ EXW QRW IURP P\ IDPLO\

ØV V3WSG Y V\Z V3WSG E 8Y )URP WKLV ZH KDYH EHFRPH IULHQGV LQGLFDWLQJ VKDULQJ RI SDLQ DQG SOHDVXUH

VXEšu DPXWw NUWÁ  /HW KHU EH ILUP

ØV\u WH JPH\u  , DP HQWHULQJ LQ WR \RXU IULHQGVKLS

P WH J2KH LQL[ CR:  /HW WKHUH QRW EH DQ\ QRLV\ VFHQHV LQ WKH KRXVH

ØV\WÁ WH P \R:u  , ZLOO QRW JR DZD\ IURP \RXU IULHQGVKLS

7YWÁ |G6\w D1\@ VuLY[1WX  /HQG \RXU FU\LQJ SRZHU WR VRPHRQH HOVH

ØV\WÁ PH P\R°w  )URP P\ IULHQGVKLS \RX DOVR GR QRW JR DZD\

P 7Yu LYNH[,  /HW \RXU KDLU QRW EH XQWLHG

ØVP\Y VuN/SYKZ  /HW XV PDNH DOO SODQV WRJHWKHU LQ OLIH

 DVP$U2KD1DP  VWHSSLQJ RQ D VWRQH  $ V\PEROLF ULWXDO ZKHUH WKH EULGH VWDQGV RQ D VWRQH DQG WKH PDQWUDV DUH VLPLODU WR WKH RQHV XVHG LQ WKH XSDQD\DQD FHUHPRQ\ IRU WKH ER\

ØVuLS>\Z  OHW XV EH ORYLQJ ØVXPQ6\PQZ  OHW XV KDYH QREOH WKRXJKWV DERXW HDFK RWKHU

 O$MD K2PD  KDYDQ ZLWK SXIIHG ULFH 7KLV ULWXDO LV GRQH E\ WKH EULGH DQG WKH EULGH JURRP UHFLWHV WKH PDQWUDV RQ KHU EHKDOI 3XIIHG ULFH LV RIIHUHG WKURXJK WKUHH PDQWUDV DQG DIWHU HDFK JR DURXQG WKH ILUH DQG VWHS RQ WKH VWRQH SUD\LQJ IRU ORQJ OLIH FKLOGUHQ EHDXW\ KHDOWK GHVWUXFWLRQ RI HQHPLHV ORYH IRU KXVEDQG·V IDPLO\ KDUPRQ\ HWF

ØVQZ PQuLV VuY>W  OHW RXU PLQGV EH WRJHWKHU WR GR DXVWHULWLHV :H VKRXOG EH LQVHSDUDEOH 6RPH H[DPSOHV DUH JLYHQ

ZUKu S2LTY, 7Yu  , DP VN\ \RX WKH HDUWK UHWRxKu UHWR 2WÁ 7Yu , DP VHHG \RX WKH ODQG

 SDWQ, QD\DQDP  WDNLQJ WKH EULGH WR WKH KXVEDQG·V KRXVH 7KH KXVEDQG PDNHV KHU IHHO FRPIRUWDEOH DVVXUHV KHU RI KHU UROH DV WKH TXHHQ RI WKH IDPLO\ DQG DOO LWV PHPEHUV 7KHUH DUH SUD\HUV IRU D VDIH MRXUQH\ WR WKH KXVEDQG·V KRXVH 7KHQ XSRQ UHDFKLQJ WKH KRXVH WKH KXVEDQG DVNV

PQRxKu YNÁ 7Yu  , DP PLQG \RX ZRUG VPKu ¦NÁ 7Yu  , DP V$PD YHGD \RX WKH ULJ YHGD

V8Q2WH  2 ODG\ RI QREOH ZRUGV SXuVH SX@\¼ L¢\Z SX@\ YH7W YZ  OHW XV EHJHW QREOH  DXVSLFLRXV RIIVSULQJV



KHU WR ORRN DW DOO WKDW VKH EURXJKW ZLWK KHU IURP KHU KRXVH DQG DOO WKDW LV LQ KLV KRXVH ZLWK DQ HTXDO VHQWLPHQW HWF

WKH KXVEDQG HQWHUV WKH ZLIH WKURXJK JDUEK$GK$QDP DQG LV ERUQ DV WKH FKLOG 7KHQ KH SUD\V IRU WKUHH WKLQJV

 JULKD SUDYH6D  HQWHULQJ LQ WR WKH KRXVH 7KH EULGH HQWHUV WKH KRXVH SODFLQJ KHU ULJKW IRRW ILUVW $ SDUWLFXODU KRPD FDOOHG SUDYH6D KRPD LV SHUIRUPHG ,W FRQWDLQV DERXW  PDQWUDV SUD\LQJ IRU ORQJ OLIH KHDOWK KDSSLQHVV DXVSLFLRXVQHVV FKLOGUHQ SURVSHULW\ HWF 7KHQ KH DVNV KHU WR WDNH WKH UHVSRQVLELOLW\ RI WKH IDPLO\



QZ eG\LQ VPuM1WX  /HW RXU KHDUWV EHFRPH RQH  XQLWHG



S>MSWHØW1Yu PH MX:6Y 7Y±w GHYHL w VKVPw (1G>v  /HW WKH GLYLQH FDUSHQWHU WYDVK7D VKDSH WKH ERG\ RI WKH FKLOG DQG OHW LQGUD JLYH VWUHQJWK



[u QR Y LSGH [u FWXSGH  /HW P\ ZLIH KDYH QREOH UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK WKH SLSHGV DQG TXDGUXSHGV RI WKH KRXVH

 GKUXYD  DUXQGKDW, GDU6DQDP  VHHLQJ WKH VWDUV GKUXYD DQG DUXQGKDW, GUXYD  DUXQGKDW, GDU6DQDP 7KLV ULWXDO RFFXUV LQ WKH QLJKW ZKHQ VKH DVNV KLP WR VHH WKH VWDU GKUXYD V\PEROLF RI VWHDGLQHVV DQG KH DVNV KHU WR VHH WKH VWDU DUXQGKDW, V\PEROLF RI FKDVWLW\

JDUEK$GK$QDP LV WR EH GRQH RQO\ DIWHU WKLV 7KH KXVEDQG ILUVW SUD\V WR VRPD JDQGKDUYD DQG DJQL ZKR ZHUH JXDUGLQJ KHU DOO WKHVH GD\V DQG VHHNV WKHLU SHUPLVVLRQ WR DVVXPH JXDUGLDQVKLS RI KHU 7KHQ D ULWXDO WR VHHN WKH EOHVVLQJV RI WKH DQFHVWRUV  Q$QG, 6U$GGKDP LV SHUIRUPHG E\ WKHP 7KH FHUHPRQLHV FRQFOXGH ZLWK JLIWV WR SULHVWV DQG RWKHUV IROORZHG E\ EOHVVLQJV E\ WKH HOGHUV HWF

7KHQ WZR PRUH ILUH ULWXDOV NQRZQ DV $JQH\D VWK$O,S$NDP DQG DXS$VDQDP DUH SHUIRUPHG 7KHVH DUH VXSSRVHG WR EH QLW\DNDUPDV IRU WKH JULKDVWKD

7KLV FRQFOXGHV RQH RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW ULWXDOV :H ZLOO GLVFXVV WKH UHPDLQLQJ ULWXDOV LQ WKH QH[W DUWLFOH

:LWK WKLV WKH ULWXDOV WR EH SHUIRUPHG RQ WKH ILUVW WKUHH GD\V RI WKH ZHGGLQJ DUH FRQFOXGHG 7KHQ RQH RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW ILUH ULWXDOV NQRZQ DV 6HVKD KRPD LV SHUIRUPHG RQ WKH IRXUWK GD\ 8QWLO WKLV WLPH WKH JURRP KDV WR REVHUYH EUDKPDFDU\D GLVFLSOLQHV 7KLV ULWXDO LQYROYHV D IHZ PDQWUDV SUD\LQJ IRU WKH UHPRYDO RI VLQV HQHPLHV HWF $W WKH HQG WKH JLUO DGGUHVVHV WKH ER\ WKXV

6RXUFH 0DWHULDO  +LQGX 6DPVNDUDV 5DMEDOL 3DQGH\ 0RWLODO %DQDUDVLGDVV 'HOKL   7KH %RRN RI 6DPVNDUDV 3UHPD 5DVD 'DVD %KDNWL 9HGDQWD %RRN 7UXVW ,QWHUQDWLRQDO   /HFWXUHV E\ 6ZDPL 3DUDPDUWKDQDQGD 0DGUDV  \DMXUYHG,\D$SDVWKDPED S8UYDSUD\RJD E\ ´DQQ$µ %KDYDQL %RRN &WU 0DGUDV

PQV FHLNWQu 7Y DS;\PÁ  , DP VHHLQJ \RX DV D SHUVRQ ZKR ZLOO XQGHUVWDQG P\ IHHOLQJV WSVR MWu  M\6Y S>M\ S>@ NP  ¶0D\ \RX EHJHW FKLOGUHQ WKURXJK PH· EXW SXWV LW LQ D EHDXWLIXO ZD\ DV ´PD\ \RX EH ERUQ DV P\ FKLOGµ 7KH LGHDV LV WKDW 

Om, Sri Gurubhyo Namaha

Vaidika Samskaras (contd..,) S. Yegnasubramanian

(Sections and sub-sections are numbered in continuation from the previous article)

i. D"\SQuE>g\BwLearning in brahma-carya ASrama and teaching in grihastha –ASrama, to maintain the guru-Sishya paramparA, is prescribed. If cannot teach, one should perform a ritual at least, known as brahmayajna, which is a nitya karma.

In the previous article in Volume 5 No. 3&4 of Paramaartha Tattvam, we discussed one of the most

important

samskAras,

the

vivAha

samskAra, which is the fourteenth samskAra of the forty-one samskAras mentioned in the first article of this series (Paramaartha tattvam, vol. 4

ii. LSW2\B6WXWS5PÁPerformance of tarpaNa during amAvAsya etc. occasions, to worship the ancestors.

No. 1, Jan-Mar 2002). We will continue the discussion with the rest of the samskAras in this article. All the discussions are based on

iii. KRPRGHYw- Offering oblations to devatas like Indra, agni, varuNa etc in hom, to express our gratitude to the natural forces and seek their blessings.

tradition and scriptures; several of them are seldom in practice these days. The samskAras after vivAha are not popular

iv. ELO 5ZWw- bhUtayajna – or vaiSvadeva – to protect birds and animals.

today. As was noted earlier, the vivAha samskAra is the 14

th

samskAra. There are 26

more samskAras which are highly ritualistic.

v. Q2\BwDLWLTS8MQPÁhumans in society.

However, for the sake of completeness, we will outline them briefly in this article. classified in to four categories: panca-mahA-yajnas sapta-pAka-yajnas sapta-havir-yajnas sapta-soma-yajnas Total

for

other

PancamahAyajna is a very important samskAra for a grihastha.

The remaining 26 samskAras can be broadly

1. 2. 3. 4.

Respect

As mentioned above, three groups of seven yajnas each are also prescribed as part of the forty samskAras. All these are fire-rituals and are very seldom done these days. Before discussing these twenty one rituals, it is useful to understand a few details.

5 7 7 7 26

During the vivAha samskAra, a particular fire ritual known as vivAha homa is performed. That vivAha-homa-agni is supposed to be preserved till a person dies or takes to sannyAsa. All the above mentioned 21 yajnas are to be performed in that agni alone. (At the time of sannyAsa, the person renounces all karma and gives up all agnis, and so is called nirAgni.)

6. panca-mahA-yajnas : There is a nice sloka which gives all the five mahAyajnas.

D"\SQ E>g\B LSW2\B6WXWS5PÁ KRPRGHYw ELO 5ZWw Q2\BwDLWLTS8MQPÁ 21

The grihastha is supposed to perform a nitya karma known as aupAsana, twice a day, in that agni (This ritual can be considered as a replacement of samidh AdhAnam.). The same agni is used for all the later samskAras of the children – upnayana, vivAha etc. – and other karmas, like SrAddha etc. When the son gets married, the father’s vivAha agni goes to the son, and so, is supposed to be maintained eternally.

As was mentioned earlier, the vivAha agni is also known as smArta agni. This agni is maintained in a circular kuNDa. A portion of this agni is taken to perform vedic rituals – srauta karmas – and is called srauta agni. The fourteen yajnas, namely the sapta-havir-yajnas and sapta-soma-yajnas, which are prescribed in the Vedas, are performed in the srauta agni, which should be preserved all the time. Elaborate procedures are given regarding the use of this agni for the performance of the 14 rituals. The yAgSAla is also known as a “devayajna”. The kalpa-sutras contain a description of it, not omitting minute details. There are altars called “cayanas” to be built with bricks. (There are no cayanas for havir and pAkayajnas. ) Several kinds of ladles are used in making offerings in the fire, “tarvi”, “sruk” and “sruva” etc.

Since these agni samskAras are connected with the well being of the family, it is called grihya agni. This will vary from family to family; for example, for Rigvedis, it is prescribed by the AswalAyana grihya sutras; for yajurvedis, by the Apasthamba griya sutras; for sAmavedis, by the gobila griha sutras etc. These rituals are not given in Sruti (the Vedas), but prescribed by the Rishis in grihya sutras – from smritis. Since rituals prescribed in the smritis are performed in this agni, it is also called smArta agni, grihya agni, aupAsana agni etc.

The srauta agni is like the master of the griha – the grihapati - is supposed to protect from all calamities etc. and so is called the gArhapatya agni This is divided in to three, before the ritual. On the eastern side, a square kuNDa is established and a portion of the gArhapatya agni is transferred. There are prescriptions regarding the size of the kuNDa, the size of the bricks etc. This agni is called Ahavaneeya agni.

It is in this smArta agni, the first set of seven pAka yajnas are performed. 7.

sapta- pAka-yajnas :

These involve the offering of cooked grains in the form of a gruel, and are done at different times, and frequencies: i.

sthAlI pAkam – twice a month

ii.

pArvaNam - once a month

iii.

ashTakA – once a year

iv.

caitrI, - once a year

v.

AsvayajI – once a year

vi.

SrAvNI - 4 months in an year – (August to November).

vi.

AgrahAyaNI - conclusion of SrAvaNI once a year.

On the southern side of the gArhapatya agni another kuNDa – semicircular in shape – is established. Another portion of fire from the gArhapatya agni is transferred to this kuNDA and is called dAkshiNAgni: srauta agni

Ahavaneeya agni

Immediately after vivAha, the first of the seven pAkayajnas, namely, sthAlIpAka, is intitiated. 22

gArhapatya agni

dAkshiNA agni

nirUDha-paSubandha –The 6th and the 7th rituals are done in a very big scale, generally, once an year, outside the house.

Since the smArta agni is never divided, it is also called ekAgni, and, since the srauta agni is divided in to three, it is also called tretAgni.

vi.

Most of the srauta rituals are done in the Ahavaneeya agni. No ritual is actually done in the gArhapatya agni and is only a witness. After the performance of the ritual, the Ahavaneeya agni and dAkshiNAgni are joined back in to gArhapatya agni.

vii. sautrAmanI once a year. The last three haviryajnas - cAturmasya, nirudhapaSubandha and sautrAmani - are performed in a yAgasAla. 9. sapa-soma-yajnas In these yajnas, soma juice is offered with the chanting of sAma veda in high pitch. All are very big yajnas and are done outside the house, for the benefit of the entire country. The seven yajnas are:

When a person dies, his cremation is performed using the srauta agni. The smArta agni is preserved for the wife. When the husband dies first, he will use up the srauta agni, and the smarta agni will be used to cremate the wife, which is supposed to give her svarga loka. If the wife dies first as a sumangali, part of the srauta agni will be used for her, which is believed to give her brahma loka. One should remember that these rituals are prescribed in the karma kANDa, only for those who are not jnAnis!

ii.

agnihotra – a daily ritual

AgrayaNa – once a year. - The above 4 rituals are small rituals, done, mostly, within the house.

v.

cAturmAsya – different from what sannyAsIs observe. This ritual is performed three times in an year, once every four months.

atyagnishtoma

v.

vAjapeya

vi. atirAtra vii. AptoryAma It is generally observed that one does aupAsana and agnihotra daily, and the rest, at least once in a life time. During vivAha, the first smArta yajna, namely, sthAlI pAka, and the first srauta yajna, agni AdhAna are initiated. Among the 21 yajnas, the seven pAka yajnas are done in smArta agni and the remaining 14 are done in srauta agni, till death or till becoming a sannyAsI!

iii. darSa-pUrNa-mAsa performed twice a month – on amAvAsya and poorNimA days iv.

ii.

iv. shoDasI

Thses are supposed to be performed in the Ahavaneeya agni. The seven yajnas are: agni AdhAnam - Division in to three; this division itself is a ritual; done only once. It has to be maintained. If it goes off, prAyascittam is to be done!

agnishtoma or jyotishtoma

iii. uktyam

8. sapta-havir-yajnas

i.

i.

As already mentioned, the daksiinAgni and the Ahavaniyaagni are made from the gArhapatyAgni. When srauta rites for the fathers have been performed in the dakhsinAgni and other srauta rites in the AhavaniyAgni, the two fires no longer have the exalted name of “srautAgni” and are just like any other ordinary fire and they have to be extinguished. Only the gArhapatya and

23

aupAsana fires throughout.

are

to

be

kept

burning

In

pAkayajnas

there

are

no

rtviks;

the

householder (as the yajamAna) performs the

On every prathama (first day of the lunar

rites with his wife. In haviryajnas there are four

fortnight), a pAkayajna and a haviryajna have to

rtviks and the yajamAna. But the udgAta’s place

be performed in the grhyAgni and srautagni

is taken by the agnidhra. The udgAta is the one

respectively. The first is called sthAlipAka.

who sings the sAman. It is only in somayajnas

“Sthali” is the pot in which rice is cooked and it

that there is sAmagAna, not in haviryajnas. In

must be placed on the aupasana fire and the

cAturmasya and pasubandha there are more

rice called “caru” cooked in it must be offered

than the usual number of priests

in the same fire. The rite that is the basis of

In somayajnas, there is the full complement of

many others (the archetype or model) is called

priests - the hota, the adhvaryu, the udgAta and

“prakrti”. Those performed after it, but with

the brahmA. Each priest is assisted by three

some changes, are known as “vikrti”. For the

others. So in all there are sixteen priests in a

sarpabali called sravani and the pAkayajna

somayajna. agnistoma which is the first of the

called agrahayani, sthAlipaka is the prakrti.

seven somayajnas is the prakrti (archetype) and

The haviryajna performed on every prathama is

the other six are its vikrti. These six are:

“darSa-pUrNa-ishTi”, “darSa” meaning the new

atyagnistoma, uktya, soDasi, vaajapeya, atiraatra

moon and “pUrNa” the full moon. So the

and AptoryAma.

“ishTis” or sacrifices conducted on the day

In the old days a Brahmin used all his wealth

following the new moon and the full moon (the

in performing the somayajna. Much of this was

two prathamas) are together given the name of

spent in dakshiNa to the priests and the rest for

darSa-pUrNa-ishTi. The two rituals are also

materials used in the sacrifice. There was also

referred to merely as “ishTi”. This is the prakrti

a time when even poor Brahmins performed

for haviryajnas.

this sacrifice every spring ( “ vasante vasante “)

For soma sacrifices “agnistoma” is the prakrti,

by begging! A Brahmin who conducted the

the word “stoma” also meaning a sacrifice.

sacrifice every year was thus called “prati-

One who performs an elaborate sacrifice like a

vasanta-somayAjin.

somayajna is called a “yajva”, “eeikshita” or

10. Final samskAra – antyeshTi

“makhin”. And one who conducts the greatest of the somayajnas, vaajapeya, is known as a

The final samskAra after death (obviously

“vaajapeyin”. Sacrifices are called variously

performed by the son or other near relative), is

“kratu”, “makha”, “ishti”, “stoma”, “samsta”.

antyeshTi – antya ishTi –final yAga.

There are some difference between these.

The individual offered so many things during

The person who performs the yajna is called

the 40 rituals all through the life. Finally, the

the yajamana and those who perform the

body itself is offered to the agni.

sacrifice for him are called rtviks (priests) who

It is believed, that, after death, if the person

consist of the hota (Rg veda priest), adhvaryu

has to get a better life in the next janma, the

(yajurveda priest) udgAta (sAma veda priest) and

person should be purified of all sins and the

brahmA (atharva veda priest)

fire does the purification. 24

Near the dead-body, certain rituals are performed, including a homa, as a prayer and for the safe journey of the subtle body. The son takes the srauta agni; the cremation ground is purified; there are rules regarding the type of wood; the body is bathed and new dress is put on – symbolic of leaving this body as a old cloth and taking on another body as a new cloth. Several mantras are recited for the various limbs to go back to the corresponding total divinities – the eyes will go back to the Sun God; the ears will go back to the directional deities etc. The day following cremation, the bones are collected – sancayanam karma- and thrown in to the river. An elaborate ritual lasting 13 days is performed. GaruDa purANa is recited so that the departed soul will be guided by the proper devatAs and reach the proper desitination.

The cremation is not performed for sannyAsI, essentially for two reasons: i.

At sannyAsa, the person has given up agni

ii.

the sannyAsa ASrama itself is a great fire of purification and so agni samskAra is not needed. If the person happens to be a jnAni also, there is no need for any samskAra – no question of reaching higher loka etc. @\uD¢PuFNX\5WÁGKLGNwL€\w

For the three Asramas, dahanam etc. rituals are done; and \WHwLNLŠ©NW59\u for, sannyAsIs, nothing is to be done as samskAra; Not only that, there is no one need to do karma for him, and he never does karma to any one.

Rituals are performed for 12 days to develop various organs: For example,

QFD1\H:uNURLWVw

1st day

Development of body, head

Why? Because a jnAnI is akartA!

2nd day

sense organs, brain, etc

All the samskAras are needed only when one depends on something or some body for purification. When the jnAnI himself or herself if pure, the jnAna agni will remove all impurities.

10th day

Loses its preta status

11th day

prayer for the well being of the jiva in the next janma

12th day

the jiva to join the pitr loka - sapinDIkaraNam – the term piNDa (rice ball) symbolizes Sareeram– which is merged with the ancestors.

From the hygiene point of view, cremation seems to be a good choice to destroy germs etc. which may affect others.

If the person has done puNya himself or herself, he/she will attain good janma; if not, the rituals are supposed to enable getting one.

At the time of death, the person is supposed to remember God. If cannot, others recite God’s names, Gita, Upanishad etc. Giving gifts – dAnam – is considered very noble and sacred; is done immediately after death, by others.

13th day

25

forget the past; start with an auspicious note – Subham

7. D6S2Kabsence of attachment

On the 13th day, the asaucam (or uncleanliness) is believed to go away. There are essentially two aspects regarding asaucam:. 1.

From the medical stand point – germs etc. are likely to be with the intimate visitors, who are essentially close relatives; like a quarantine, the spreading is minimized. grihya sutras also give a lot of details.

2.

Mental shock and du:kham remain. With frustration and sorrow, a person will have only dislike and so is given time to get over that.

8.PuJOPÁauspiciousness / DQ1Gw Absolute DQ1Gw requires Atma-jnAnam. But one can get relative quietitude through the practice of these. When a person is endowed with the above AtmaguNas, he becomes an adhikArI – the eligible – for vedAnta and for the ultimate knowledge. Endowed with the Knowledge, the person has no worry about next life, krama muktI, svarga loka etc. Such a person is pUrNa: and lives with the awareness aham brahma asmi. Thus the samskAras lead to AtmaguNas which give adhikAritvam to gain Knowledge which gives liberation – moksha. If a person does not get the AtmaguNas in this life, with the antyeshTi samskAra, it is hoped that one will get them in the next life!!

However, there are some exceptions for asaucam – for example, brahmacarIs, sannyAsIs, and one, in the midst of an yAga, even if a grihastha, do not have asaucam. Our scriptures have prescribed these samskAras to facilitate a person to attain the eight great virtues – Atma guNas, which are:

This concludes a cursory discussion of all the 41 vaidika samskAras.

1. G\- Compassion, sensitivity to others etc.

Source Material:

2.

1.

Hindu Samskaras, Rajbali Pandey, Motilal Banarasidas, Delhi, 1998.

2.

The Book of Samskaras, Prema Rasa Dasa, Bhakti Vedanta Book Trust International, 1977.

3.

Lectures Madras.

4.

Hindu Dharma, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 1995.

L1Wwpatience, forbearnce, capacity to face provoking agitated

situations

without

getting

3. DQV8\absence of jealousy 4. [ZFPÁpurity internally and externally

DQ\Vwabsence of tension / anxiety 6. DNS5\PÁ absence helplessness

of

miserliness

or

26

by

Swami

Paramarthananda,