samskaras & other related questions on hinduism

CULTURAL QA 01-2020-10

Dear friends

This QA was ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 10-9-2008. NOW REPOSTED ON 6-1-2020.

On those days the information were collected from different websites and postings and details were not included in the postings. Kindly take these as just information.

Sincerely

Gopala Krishnan

Q1 How many sacraments are there?

A1 According to Greha Sutra, the number of sacraments is 11

Q2 What is the sacrament- Garbhadana or Garbha-Lambhana

A2.Garbhadana or Garbha-Lambhana :-first rite was sometimes called Chaturthi Karma. During the previous day, the bride and the bridegroom, after ablutions purified their bodies, and before approaching his wife, which act might bring another human being into the world, the bridegroom repeated two mantras (R'Gveda X. 186): "Let all pervading Vishnu prepare her womb; let the creator shape the forms; let Prajapati be the impregnator; let the creator give the embryo." This sacrament, in modern times, is a physical act and has lost its religious sanctity.

Q3 What is the importance of a son's birth?

A3 Aitareya-Brahmana of the R'Gveda VII.3.13 says, "When a father sees the face of a living son, he pays a debt in him, and gains immortality.

The pleasure, which a father has in his son, exceeds all other enjoyments. His wife is a friend, his daughter an object of compassion, his son shines as his light in the highest world."

Q4 What is the sacrament- Seemantonnyan or hair parting

A4. Seemantonnyan or hair parting : this sacrament is performed in the fourth month of the pregnancy. It starts with the oblation to fire, with repetition of the Vedic texts (Atharva Veda VII.17.1 Rigveda III.59.1; V.25; II 32.4-5). The woman then performed her ablutions in pure water; fragrant oil was poured on her head and a line or parting (Simanta) was drawn three times through her hair from the fore head upwards with three stalks of kusa grass bound together. Three sacred words called vyahritis (Bhur, Bhavar, Svar) and the hallowed syllable OM (AUM) uttered during each operation.

Certain medicines, having purifying efficacy for the remaining period of gestation, were also given. Musical entertainment and cheering took place, thought essential for the proper development of the unborn child. The idea for the proper development of the unborn child.

The idea was that the body of the mother should be consecrated and protected from evil influences at the critical period of gestation. This rite is only performed for the first pregnancy.

Q5 What is the sacrament- Jata Karman or birth ceremony

A5. Jata Karman or birth ceremony : this sanskara (sacrament) is performed after the birth of the infant and before the severing of the umbilical cord, by the father. Honey and ghee (clarified butter) mixed together, stirred by a golden rod or spoon, a small portion of the mixture is introduced into the of mouth of a newborn infant. This rite symbolized good fortune. Certain texts were repeated (R'Gveda II.21.6; III.36.10) with the prayer: " O long lived one, may you live a hundred years in this world, protected by the gods." Both the ears of the infant were then touched with the golden rod repeating the prayer, "May Savitri, May Saraswati, may the Asvins, grant the wisdom." Lastly, rubbing the shoulders, the prayer uttered is, "become firm as a rock, sharp as an axe, pure as gold; thou art the Veda called a son, live thou a hundred years. May Indra bestow on thee his best treasures."

Q6 What is the sacrament- Nam karan (Nam karana – name giving

A6. Nam karan (Nam karana – name giving): among the Hindus, giving a name, is a solemn religious ceremony, fraught with important consequences in it's bearing on the future prospects of the infant. Asvalayasa laid down the rules based on the sound and meaning in name giving. The name of the boy should be two, four or even syllables and have a soft consonant for the first letter and a semi vowel in the middle e.g.. Bhadra, deva etc.. Sarman (prosperity) for Brahmins and varman for Ksatriyas; Gupta (protected) for vaishays and Dasa (slave) for Sudras were prescribed. The female names were required to be agreeable, soft, clear, captivating, auspicious and ending in long vowels. This sacrament is performed on the 10th or 11th day of the birth of the child. On this occasion, food is given to the Brahman etc. according to Manu, Nam karan of each caste should be made in different way.

Q7 What is the sacrament- Nishkramana (ceremony?

A7. Nishkramana (Carrying out). In this sacrament, the child is taken out of the house for the first time and is made to have a "Darshan" of the sun. This sacrament is performed by the parents after four months of the birth of the child. The prayer made the occasion is: "that eye like luminary, the cause of blessings to the gods (or placed in the sky by the gods), rises in the east; may be behold it for a hundred years." "May we hear, may we speak, may we be free from poverty for a hundred years and more." (R'Gveda VII.66.16; Vaj – Samhita XXXVI.24).

Q8 Do acquisition of wealth is sin?

A8 Hindu scriptural texts have said in unambiguous terms that acquisition of wealth is no sin; nor is there any virtue in being poor. The ancient thinkers-the venerable seers-have included wealth (Artha) in the four Purusharthas, the fundamental aspirations one should have, the other three being Dharma (righteousness) Kama (pleasure) and Moksha (deliverance of the soul).
All that the thinkers insisted was that wealth be earned through proper means. Similarly, there is no harm in enjoying pleasures which are not opposed to the dictates and principles of Dharma.
One is entitled to all happiness that is derived from leading a pure and noble life, the individual performing his duties faithfully.

Q9 Who is the Vedic God worshipped till today/ What is the speciality of making offering to him ?

A9 Agni is one of the few gods who have retained their supremacy in the Hindu hierarchy of gods, from the Vedic age till today and has the largest number of hymns addressed to him.

He is the priest of the gods and the god of the priests and serves as the liaison between gods and men. He presides over all the great events of a person's life and at the end it is Agni, through the flames of the funeral pyre, who accepts the body as an offering.

The priest, while pouring butter in the fire summons 'Svaha', the consort of Agni, by name.

Q10 What are the three division of ganga?

A10 Ganga is divided into three parts. One part which remained in the heavens was called Mandakini. The part that came down to earth is known as Ganga, and the part flowing in the nether region is called the Bhagirathi,

Most of the holy cities of India are located on the banks of the Ganga. These are Rishikesh, Haridwar, Varanasi (Benares), Allahabad etc. Those who die within the specified limits of the Ganga go to the heavenly world. If after cremation the ashes are thrown into tl1e Ganga, the same purpose is served. No Hindu would dare speak a falsehood with the Ganga water (Ganga-jal) in his hand.

Q11 When did karthikeya lost his priority in north India? What is the orgin of karhtikeya told in the Mahabharata?

A11 With the advent of Shiva, Kartikeya started losing his importance in Northern India where he was sometimes relegated to the position of a guardian deity in Shaivite temples.

In the South he is still popular, and is also associated with deities like Murugan, Velam and Seyyan.A passage in the Mahabharata mentions Agni's adulterous relationship with six wives of the Rishis(ascetics), who represent the six stars that form the Indian Pleidaes in the constellation of Taurus. The relationship resulted in the birth of Kartikeya. Because of his having six heads, all his six mothers were able to suckle him at the same time.. Many women worship Kartikeya so that they may be blessed with a male offspring.

Q12 Do Nandi had a human form once?

A12 Yes. Originally, under the name of Nandikeshvara, Nandi seems to have existed in human form as a sage (rishi) who acted as Shiva's door keeper before achieving divine status

The reason for the association may have stemmed from Shiva's relationship with Rudra who was sometimes referred to as the bull.

This probably has roots in the vast mythology and the symbolism surrounding bulls that are found in ancient cultures.

Nandi's association with fertility is illustrated by the custom of the devotees touching the feet and testicles of the Nandi idol when entering a Shiva temple.

Q13 How Parvathi got the name Gauri?

A13 When Shiva teased her about her black skin, through penances she had her colour changed to that of gold and was then called Gauri. Parvati is not important enough to be worshipped alone but only as a minor deity in a Shiva temple.

Q14 When did the worship of female deities started?

A14 Between the 5th and the 13th centuries, from being merely the consorts of the male deities, and their active partners, female deities (shakti) became independent and objects of worship in their own right having a temple in which they were the main icons .

It was around this time that Parvati, from a minor deity as a consort of Shiva, became a major deity as Durga and Kali.

Q15 Do Saraswathi was a river or deity? If she was a deity what are her orgin details?

A15 In the Vedas Saraswati is primarily a river but in the hymns she is celebrated as both a river and a deity. Her origins are obscure but it is possible that she once had something to do with the river Saraswati in Rajasthan or with water in some other way.

At all events, she seems to have been associated with the creative properties that water has for seeds and vegetation. Being the goddess of learning, she is worshipped when a child is given instructions for the first time in reading and writing. Many schools in India start classes with a mass prayer to the goddess.

Q16 It is told the dead body should not be cremated before 5 hours after death. What is the reason?

A16 After death the soul takes four hours and forty minutes to reach Yama. Therefore a dead body should not be cremated before this time has elapsed

Q17 What are the positive and negative points of the seven days of the week?

A17 Sunday is the day to worship Shakti (Female Energy) and a good day to begin a new venture. Red colour should be worn on this day.

Tuesday -No auspicious activities should be started on this day and one should wear red for good-luck.

Budh-var (Wednesday) is the day of Mercury (Budh). He is the son of Soma (Moon), light yellow in colour with four arms carrying a mace, a sword and a shield and riding a lion. The clothes and garland worn by Budh are also green coloured. He is considered wise and always exerts an influence in conjunction with other planets. Feeding the Brahmins on this day is considered good.

Brihaspati-var (Thursday) is also called Guruvar A person under his influence will have a lot of wealth. A girl coming to motherhood on this day will have many sons. Brihaspati is the teacher of the Gods. Thursday's colour is yellow.

Friday- He is the most auspicious of the planets. It is good to fast on Fridays

Shani (Saturn) is the most malicious of the planets. All misfortunes are traced to him, so much so that periods of misfortune are termed as 'Shani-dasa'. Due to a curse given by his wife, Shani has the capacity to cause destruction with his eyes. Hence he is always looking down so as not to destroy anything. . The planet should be worshipped on Saturdays to reduce his evil influence.

Q18 How many chapters are in Bhagavat geetha? How many days the mahabharata war lasted?

A18 Both eighteen. The Gita, as it is popularly called, is composed of eighteen chapters. The scene for the working out of the Gita is a battlefield near Delhi where the battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, involving an army of five million, took place and continued for eighteen days

Q19 What is the importance of the Red in Hindu religion?

A19 In Hindu religion red is of utmost significance and the colour most frequently used for auspicious occasions like marriages, birth of a child, festivals etc.
A red mark is put on the forehead during ceremonies and important occasions.. As a sign of marriage women put red powder on their hair parting.
They also wear a red sari during marriage. Red powder is usually thrown on statues of deities and phallic symbols during prayers. It is also the colour of shakti (prowess). A red coloured dress is put on deities who are charitable, brave, protective and who have the capacity to destroy evil. On the death of a woman, her body is wrapped in a red cloth for the cremation.

Q20 What is the importance of the saffron in Hindu religion?

A20 Saffron-It represents fire and as impurities are burnt by fire, this colour symbolizes purity. Wearing the colour symbolizes the quest for light. It is the battle colour of the Rajputs, the warrior caste.

Q21 What is the importance of the Yellow in Hindu religion?

A21 It is the colour of spring and activates the mind. Lord Vishnu's dress is yellow symbolizing his representation of knowledge. Lord Krishna and Ganesha also wear yellow dresses.

Q22 What is the importance of the white colour in Hindu religion?

A22 White-It is a mixture of seven different colours hence it symbolizes a little bit of the quality of each. It represents purity, cleanliness, peace and knowledge. The goddess of knowledge, Saraswati is always shown as wearing a white dress, sitting on a white lotus. The other prominent deities would also have a touch of white on their dress. A Hindu widow would wear a white dress in mourning.

Q23 How the cow has become the living symbol of Mother Earth ?

A23 The cow is supposed to be the living symbol of Mother Earth. For the early migrants the cow was an indispensable member of the family. As agriculture was the occupation of the migrants, the cow provided them with milk and its by products and also necessities of life such as fuel, manure for the farm, etc.
During this time the Aryans prayed to their numerous gods through 'yagna' (from 'yaj', to worship). invoking the fire-god, 'Agni', by ritually kindling sacred wood on an altar, and keeping the fire alive by constantly feeding it with melted butter.
It was through the instrumentality of 'Agni' (fire) that the offering of milk-pudding and a drink of milk, curds and honey (madhupeya) was conveyed to one's chosen gods. Thus the cow supplied the major requirements of the yagna and this association soon made it sacred.

Q24 Why do the eldest son lit fire to the pyre?

A24 The nearest relation, normally the eldest son lights the funeral pyre. This is important as whoever lights the pyre is considered the legal heir

In the days following the cremation a mourning period of approximately twelve days is observed, during which time the sitting room is cleared of furniture and the relatives and visitors have to sit on the floor. This is the time for friends and relatives to pay a condolence visit. 

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