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  • What is Garbhadhana Samskara?

    What is Garbhadhana Samskara?

    Garbhadhan implies conception. Biology terminology calls it an outcome of sexual impulse. It’s natural.  It completes the motive of solemnizing marriage, i.e. reproduction. So, how it can be settled?

    Lord Krishna taught human the lesson of vedic civilization. Indian scriptures ‘Vedas’ recommend the Vivaha Samskara. It’s a marriage sacrament that transforms a household into ashram (a place of spiritual cultivation). This is why holy books of Hindu religion have mention of Grihasth Ashram.

    However, people think it a licence for sexual gratification. But it’s the mutual journey of the couple to the spiritual life. It teaches the spouses to give rise to the kind, intelligent and spiritually blessed child. Thereby, his/her parents as well as society will be blessed.

    Garbhadhana is a science of creating spiritual offspring. He/she should have pure conscience. The spiritual conscience of the parents, their health and astrological aspects impact it.

    Does it cure infertility?

    It’s a science but not a cure of infertility. Fertile couples perform it on an auspicious date & time. But no auspicious time and date can do any good to the parents who are incapable of conceiving.

    How it is observed?

    The literary meaning of ‘Garbhadhan’ means enriching womb with a young one. Its perfect time to observe this ritual is the fourth to sixteenth night after monthly cycle of the wife.

    Before Nisheka (conception), this ritual is conducted. People book a priest online or offline. The priest performs religious rites of the passage. It marks the intent of the parents to be blessed with a child.

    The couple should perform this ritual with fresh and jolly mood. It should worship lord Ganesha in the noon. The wife should take a bath before evening. She should wear ornaments, new cloths, festoons and garlands. She should worship while facing east. The married women who have children offer her wheat, oat, coconut. The chanting of hymns echoes the environment.  Both couple should put on clean white cloths to perform Upastha Sparsha Kriya. After spending night together, the husband should chant the mantra.

  • How Hindus Observe Naam Karanam Ritual?

    Birth continues life on the earth. This is why the occasion of a child’s birth becomes celebration. Parents, kith and kin walk on cloud nine. The extreme delight springs out. Their lineage continues with the birth of their heir.

    What is Naamkaran Sanskaar?

    Naam stands for name while Karan implies ‘to affect’. The conjunction of these two determines the name of the infant.

    Deciding name of the infant on an auspicious date and time is ‘Naam Karan’. Performing it in a ritualistic way as per customs is ‘Sanskaar’.  Its motto is to keeps the evil spirits away from the infant.

    How Hindus observes ‘Naam karanam’?

    Each culture and community follows different format for observing this ceremony. In Hindus, they do it in Aryans’ way. It’s an ancestral ritual.

    Some schedule fifth (Panchvi) or sixth (Chhathi) day post birth whereas some choose the day between twelfth and forty days. This celebration can be a familial affair or grand celebration. Some conduct this ritual in the presence of at least five women while for some it’s a lavished grand celebration.

    Hindus consult or book the priest online for deciding an auspicious date and time (Shubh Mahurat). On that pious day, the parents get ready in the new attire. Women in the family make the baby bath before the ceremony.

    The ritual begins with the cradle. Ladies sing traditional songs. The aunt covers the baby and the caravan of the ladies visit the well with him/her. But the urban lifestyle has no place for well in the household. So, the mother is accompanied to the tap or water source. She worships it with rice, turmeric powder, betel leaves and nut.

    Afterwards, the mother and the baby return. Baby’s aunt gifts gold or silver amulet, anklets, necklace and cloths for the infant. She gifts cradle also. She whispers the name in baby’s ear.

    Subsequently, the grand feast takes place. All the guests bring souvenir for the mother and the baby.

    How child’s name is decided in Hindus?  

    As per Indian Astrology, the priest draws the horoscope of the newly born. After reading it, the initial letter is found. Later, the family decides his/her name with the same initial letter. The decided name depicts the upcoming personality of the baby.

  • Jata Karman-Hindu’s First Ritual after Child’s Birth

    Indian culture has lots of traditions. Out of these, Jata karman is the very first ritual that is celebrated post birth of a child. It is extremely private rite for the family. This is why only parents, family and close relatives observe it together.

    What is Jata Karman?

    Jata Karman is a welcoming rite for an infant in the family. It signifies the bonding of the child with the father. It is the rite observed when the infant takes birth.

    How this ritual is performed?

    This ritual is very special for the father. He gets the chance to show his blood relation with the child. However, almost all rituals in hindu religion requires presence of the priest. But this one does not need any priest.

    On this occasion, the family gets together. The father plays prime role in this rite. He inspects the child at the maternity room first. Then he takes a bath for getting ready for the ritual.

    He takes clarified butter (ghee) and honey. Using his forefinger, he lets his child lick the concoction. For it, he touches the mix of ghee and honey on to his tongue. Subsequently, he comes closer to the infant’s ear and whispers his/her name. A few families chant hymns on this occasion.

    Gryhasutra has mention of Medhahanana which determines initialization of baby’s mind. It also elaborates that the child’s intellectuality activates.

    The people who enjoy strong bond with the Indian culture don’t forget performing this rite even abroad. For example, if a hindu family lives in Sydney, they book a priest in Sydney online or offline for it.

    What’s its significance?

    Supernatural beings scare a lot. It is believed that the child and the mother can come under the influence of negative energies post-delivery. This ritual draws a virtual protective circle around the child and the mother.

    Feeding child with the honey and the butter triggers mental development. The father prays for blessing wisdom to his child.

    The whispering of name signifies protection of the child from the sorcery. The name remains known to the parents only. Thereby, they ensure long life of their child.

  • Why Navagraha Puja is Conducted?

    What science and astrology state about nine planets?

    As its name defines, Navagraha stands for nine planets. Science terminology identifies planets as celestial bodies.

    Indian mythology and astrology personify these celestial bodies as Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budh, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu. As mythology goes, the rage of Lord Shiva gave rise to these planets. It also confirms that they cast influence on human life. Observe a lunatic or mad on the full moon night. He is its epitome. He observes maximum fits on that day and his blood goes thin.

    Astrology is an architectural science. It vets the positive impact of the planets and five elements (earth, fire, air, water and sky) on the humans. Therefore, it fights with the environmental destructors to restore cosmic energy there.

    Astrological aspect

    Each planet exerts its impact on every human. All celestial bodies govern us. They rule over our karmas, desires and results. Their influence is known as ‘Dasa’. The natal chart or horoscope displays dasa of each planet on every being. Malefic planets cast an evil eye upon a being while benefic planets induce prosperity, health and wealth in life.

    Negative impact of malefic planets can disrupt career, wealth, health and personal life. Navagraha Puja is observed to reduce or remove such negative impacts of malefic planets.

    Significance of Navagraha Puja

    As per mythology, Lord Vishnu called Navagraha Puja as an easiest way to meet all four purusharths. These purusharths hide the objective of one’s life via dharma (religion), artha (material), kaam (fulfillment of desires) and moksha (salvation).

    Advantages of Navagraha Puja

    • Fades away the negative impact of malefic planets and strengthens benefic planets.
    • Removes hurdles in personal as well as professional life
    • Bestows good health, wealth, prosperity, harmony and success
    • Dispels negative impacts of vastu defects
    • Blesses salvation

    Holy ritual of Navagraha Puja:

    • Kalasha Sthapana
    • Panchang Sthapana
    • 64 Yogini Pujan
    • Shetrapal Pujan
    • Swasti Vachan
    • Sankalpa
    • Ganesh Pujan and anointment
    • Navagraha Pujan
    • Chanting 108 planetary mantras
    • Invocation of deity in Kalash (pot)
    • Chanting beej mantra of nine planets
    • Navagraha yantra pujan
    • Shanti daan (donation for peace)
    • Yagna
    • Aarti
    • Pushpanjali
    • Brahmin bhojan (feating brahmins

  • Why and How Griha Pravesh Is Conducted?

    What astrology says about Griha Pravesh?

    Bricks, pillars and beams can construct a house but only love and happiness transform it in a home.
    It’s true seen as well as unseen forces share space with human beings on this earth. Astrology, the architectural science, has vivid mention of positive and negative energies. Both energies exist. The latter energy casts evil spell. It hampers growth, prosperity and career. Wealth and heath decline just because of negative forces. Therefore, cleansing must be done before occupying a place.

    Cleansing implies decontamination. Griha Pravesh or house warming has potential to drive away negative energies as per Rig Veda. For it, positive forces are invoked to kick away evil forces.

    How Griha Parvesh is performed?

    The prospective inhabitant deploys an adept priest. He conducts this pious ceremony at the dwelling place on an auspicious date. The place can be a newly built architecture or a revamped house. Astrology recommends ritualistic cleansing of every living place before making it shelter.

    The couple should put on clean new cloths on this day. It should sit at the makeshift fireplace beside the priest. Before boiling the milk, Ganpati Homam is done at the place in the early morning on the house warming day. Milk is boiled in new utensil and spilled on the stove. Its pious smoke permeates the place. This holy smoke dispels negative vibes. Then, the conch shell is blown to kill the germs in the air.

    Stepping the right leg in first by the lady of the house is followed thereafter. A copper Kalasha (pot) filled with Ganges water is kept at the pooja place. Alternatively, a clay pot can be used. But a copper coin should be kept inside. It should be marked with Swastik using turmeric. Un-husked betel nut should be dropped in the water. The, 5 mango leaves entice its top with the un-husked coconut at the middle.

    Betel nut aromatizes water reducing copper ions in the water. Mango leaves keep the evil spirits at bay. These also symbolize fertility. This is why their festoon is also hung at the door.
    With the incense sticks are lighted to worship almighty and take blessings of the lord. Subsequently, camphor, sandalwood, mango branches along with other herbs and spices are burnt to ashes in the fire.
    Milk and rice are boiled in the vessel. Both signify purity and long life. The vessel should be overflown which indicates inflow of wealth.

    Then, the earth is dug till a 15m at the doorstep to bury some pieces of silver, gold, bronze, iron and copper coins. The conch is put as the seal of the dig. Bring in a cow & its worshipping completes this auspicious ceremony.

  • Why Goddess Saraswati is Worshipped on Vasant Panchami?

    Who is Goddess Saraswathi?

    Goddess Saraswati is the spouse of Lord Brahma as per Rig Veda and Hindu mythology. She bestows knowledge music, arts, wisdom and learning. This is why she is revered across the globe, especially in Nepal, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bali and Myanmar.

    It is believed that this deity blessed the earth with music, art and creativity to end boredom. Her beautiful idol is dressed in ivory white saree. She often appears seated on lotus flower. She personifies purity and enrichment.

    Why she is worshipped on Vasant Panchami?

    The 5th day of spring season in India is observed as Vasant Panchmi. It is the festival of flowers, blossoms, harvest and happiness. The entire nature revives with its onset.

    Vasant Panchami is a festival of Hindus. The masters bless their disciples to trigger new semester in education. They begin their day by worshipping the goddess. Teachers gift their student stationery items and books.

    People cook yellow food; dress up in yellow cloths and dedicate yellow flowers at the feet of this goddess. But before that, her idol is embellished with white saree with yellow border. White colour symbolizes purity, prosperity and love. This is why this colour complies with her attributes.

    The goddess’ statue is anointed with turmeric and vermillion (Kumkum). With mango leaves, dry rice, coconut, betel leaves & nuts, banana, fruits, banana leaf, ghee, camphor incense stick and jaggery, she is worshipped. Afterwards, soaked rice, jaggery and cardamom are mixed well to prepare Thullu Maavu.Subsequently, all books, learning items and laptops and other accessories are also anointed.

    Apart from this festival, she is worshipped on the ninth day of Navratri. Her devotees worship their tools for conducting Ayudh Pooja (worshipping of tools). The books and tools are kept untouched.
    Her beej mantra “Om Shreem Bhreem Saraswataye Namah” is chanted while revering her. This ritual is followed by teaching first lesson to the students.