We and our Customs

Every race/community, in order to survive in this weird world, develops a piece of its culture which is unique from others. Hinduism, oldest religion in world also developed its own unique cultural base, traditions and a philosophy of Life. Cultural identification is needed for recognition and survival.

In Hinduism we postulated 16 sanskars [ceremonies] from birth to death of a man. Many of these sanskars [ceremonies] are out of vogue now. Two prominent sanskars [ceremonies] which are in vogue are Yagnopavit ceremony and Marriage ceremony. Even these two have gone under  modifications.

Yagnopavit:-

It marked acceptance of student by teacher [Guru]. With this child entered into formal education. This education besides imparting Vedic knowledge extended to art and craft also. This ceremony can be compared to Baptism in Christianity. Both boys and girls used to undergo this ceremony. Manu smriti, Harita dharamasutra and Kurma Puran endorse girl yagnopavit. Girls who opted for marriage instead of gurukul did symbolic yagnopavit ceremony on their marriage day. In Kashmir this ceremony is done with some modifications introduced by rishi Logaksha. This ceremony [sanskar] is one of the 16 sanskars a Hindu has to undergo from birth to death in this world. Sanskars are essential for physical, mental and spiritual development of a person. Though ARYA SAMAJ accepts girl yagnopavit, orthodox Hindu canons do not approve of girl yagnopavit. This ceremony is for all Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishya. Bandhayan grihyasutra even mentions this ceremony for Shudras. Age limit for this ceremony was fixed as:- Brahmin 8 years, Kshatriya 11 years and for Vaishya 12 years. Sacred thread worn on this ceremony has three strands. These three strands stand for three goddesses---Savitri, Saraswati and Gayatri, meaning Goddesses of Deed, Word and Mind. Knot [Brahm gand] represents cosmic energy holding three Goddesses. At physical plane three strands stand for our three responsibilities towards Devtas, Pitras and Household. Wearer of this sacred thread had to be pure in thought and in deed.

Today yagnopavit is not done for girls and out of boys custom now mainly in Brahmin community. Ceremony has lost its vitality and is reduced to just social display. This boy even after this all elaborate ceremony is not introduced to Vedas. He is not told significance of holy Gayatri mantra. After ceremony he does not know how many Vedas are there and what they stand for. Not knowing true significance of ceremony boy hangs this sacred thread in bath room and forgets about it. Question comes to mind if that is ultimate fate of this sacred thread ceremony, then why do it at all? Shouldn’t we ask Gurujee to impart us including boy undergoing this ceremony some Vedic knowledge, tell us significance of Gayatri Mantra and its relevance. That way faith can develop in these rituals and guarantee their future.

Marriage:-

This is another sanskar day by day losing its sanctity. Hindus are only community in this world who believe in its sacrosanctity. For Abrahamic religions marriage is just a contract between boy and girl which can be easily broken. In Hinduism there are various types of marriage ceremonies, but most common is matching of horoscopes of boy and girl. After matching of horoscope compatibility of families was assessed .Only after horoscope matching and family compatibility consent for marriage was given. Mahurat [auspicious date and time] for” Lagan” was got from Guru jee . At “Lagan” boy and girl were told significance of marriage and their duties to each other and to family.

Now this Mahurat, importance of marriage, duties and significance of Vedic mantras has been hijacked by video filming of events, Jai Mala [a Rajput custom] and filmy songs. From DAAR Puja to Posh Puja everything is done mechanically. There is no attempt to know true significance of what is being done. Even Guru jee at times is asked to finish mantras fast for some less important social events. No one listens to mantras being chanted by Guru jee. Net result boy and girl do not know importance of marriage and its implications. Marriage is taken as bondage for fulfilling one’s desires. Wisdom of all what was done in past is seriously doubted.

Marriage today is a gala function with big feast. There is exchange of costly gifts [glumut]. No body knows importance of Glumut in past and its irrelevance today. With love marriages on rise horoscope matching has taken back seat. Even it is ridiculed right and left by concerned. A question comes to mind, if we have no faith in horoscope matching, Mahurat etc. then why run this drill before marriage?

Conclusion:--

We Hindus are only community on this planet who doubt and ridicule customs and our cultural heritage. Vedic wisdom is being criticized despite the fact that over 99% of us cannot read or write Sanskrit [language of VEDAS]. When whole world has started accepting Vedic wisdom, we are leaning towards west for patronage. Isn’t it a irony that we criticize without trying to know what is written in holy books!

Are you aware of any Muslim/Christian who is criticizing his cultural heritage, leave alone religion. Yet we Hindus are ready to criticize our religious customs without trying to find their essence. Any society/nation survives because of its cultural base. Mao se Tung of china said long back, “To destroy a country, just destroy its culture”. Same was done by Britishers and Moghuls who ruled us. Even after independence we are slaves to western ideology. This is intellectual bankruptcy. We have made mess of our ceremonies and religion on the whole, citing freedom of expression as reason. We are ever ready to adopt others customs for petty gains. This shows we are a sick society.

If we have to survive we need to understand Vedic wisdom and significance of all cultural heritage including Sanskars. For this intellectuals have to read Vedas and translate their wisdom in local/ national language. These intellectuals should not trust western translations which obviously are biased and prejudiced. In mother tongue this Vedic wisdom can be easily grasped. This will help us in developing faith in these ceremonies [sanskars]. Once there is faith we will be able to carry these sanskars forward in better and firm way.With out faith these sanskars are going to die in future.

Need of hour is to revisit our past to secure our future. Strong cultural base is backbone of society/community. It should be our endeavor to rebuild our society and culture.All rituals need to be celebrated with fervour and faith ,as they give spiritual resonance to our lives.