What we refer to as “Hindu tradition” is nothing but a set of rites and rituals, customary observance of certain practices. Rites are ceremonial acts prescribed by religion. A ritual may be a religious or solemn ceremony involving a series of actions performed in a prescribed order.
“Hindu tradition” aims at developing individuals who follow good habits and practise rites and rituals, thereby promoting happiness and wellness.
There are several rites and rituals one is expected to perform at various stages of life, from birth to death. Vedas, puranas and other religious texts prescribe them and other Hindu practices in detail. Their prompt and timely performance enable an individual to understand life better and overcome obstacles and complete it successfully. The Hindu sanskar that guide and safeguard us bestow on us a magnetic personality, one that’s vibrant with virtues, positive thoughts, morals and ethics.
In the Brahma Sutra Bhashya, Shankaracharya has said that the actions that project one’s strength and eliminate weaknesses are termed sanskar.
Saints and sages point out that everyone is crude and ignorant at birth. Individuals are influenced by deeds, misdeeds and unfulfilled desires of previous births. Their behaviour in this birth is, therefore, affected by sanskar of earlier lives too, besides those of the family in this life.
Sage Ved Vyasa has described 16 important rituals in Vyas Smriti.
“Garbhadhanam pumsavanam seemamto jaatakarma cha
namakriyanishamane nganasanam vapanam kriya
karnavedho vratadeso vedarambha kriyavidhi
kesanth: snamudvaho vivahagniparigraha:
thretagnisamgrahascheti sanskara: shodasa smrita”
This shloka pinpoints that ceremonies associated with childbirth — pumsavan, simantonayan, namakaran, chhochak, nishkraman, annaprashan, mundan, karnavedh, vidyarambh etc — are inevitable in the life of a Hindu. All observances and rituals, however, need to be redefined and restructured according to the changed times. Thus, when they are conducted according to procedures on the right occasion and in the appropriate atmosphere, they can work miraculous results.
Even scientists approve of the impact of sound and music, colour and the magnetic vibrations that spells evoke when rituals are performed. During rites and rituals, when a priest invokes the blessings of deities, individuals experience the grace of gods — their mind gets imbued with religious feelings gradually. The importance of the occasion, the enthusiasm it evokes, the positive atmosphere, the emotional bond among the people involved, all create an elevated state of mind and this ultimately creates a feeling of togetherness, security and grace of God.
Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan can be reached at drvenganoor@yahoo.co.in
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/dr-venganoor-balakrishnan-630
