PEN DOWN by Yalinee Tharmabalan

I’m not sure for many of you girls out there but I sure had one hell of a memorable time turning 12!About 9 years ago,just a day after my birthday, I was officially pronounced a big girl!No,it was not because I managed to eat a horse and gain weight but this was when I attained puberty.

I had a grand ‘Samarthia Sadanggu’ and during this is when I learnt much about this ceremony. There are no specific mantras for this ceremony but if priests are invited to perform prayers, they would do so only when one month has elapsed after the first menstruation of the girl. The ceremony that I had was performed by the elders in my family. It started of with the bathing ceremony in which I was given 3 betel leaves rolled into a cone-shape with some ‘paaku’,10 and 1 cent coins and lime to be held on each hand with a thin ‘veshti’ put over my head. While I sat on a low stool covered with a white piece of cloth, 3 married aunties then placed milk, ‘aruham’ grass and coins on my head 3 times while my maternal uncle breaks a coconut.

I was later led to the bathroom, and my aunties poured small buckets of water on my head while another uncle was invited to break a coconut. This ceremony is said to rid the girl of the impurities incurred by her because of her menstruation. After my shower,I was dressed like a bride and told to hold a ‘nirai kudam’ which signifies auspiciousness. In Hindu tradition, girls are looked upon as embodiments of Goddess Lakshmi. I then stood in the middle of about 15 trays comprising of the ‘Kamachi Vilakku’, ‘pannir’ set, fruits and rice and curry to name a few. The trays must be in odd numbers and married ladies did the ‘aalathi’ for me.

All these are used to bless the girl to have a good health, long life, Lakshmi’s grace and to remove any effect of ‘bad’ eyes. As we can see here, the Hindu society considers this an important turning point in a girl’s life, and therefore performed rituals to ensure that health, wealth, long life and auspiciousness are bestowed upon the girl. These blessings would contribute to ensure that the girl becomes a Lakshmi of the house at the right age and brings up a divine home with healthy off-springs.

PEN DOWN by Yalinee Tharmabalan

Do you know why are bells rung in temples during prayers? Firstly, the bell, known in Sanskrit as the

Ghanta/Ghanti is used in all poojas for invoking the Gods.

At first, I too was not sure as to why bells were rung in temples. Personally I had always felt that maybe it was because of the auspicious sound it produced. After doing much research, to my delight, I discovered that my opinion seemed to be right ! It seems that the ringing of the bell produces the sound of Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.

In addition to that, an added significance of ringing the bell is that they help drown any in- harmonious and or rich tonal sound produced while singing the Aarti or even chanting traditional Mantras for worship.

The exquisitely etched grooves complement the slender and graceful lines of the bell. It has a special protective lacquer coating to prevent it from tarnishing. Prayers or Pooja of any kind on any occasion are incomplete without the joyous sounds and chanting of this fine Temple Bell.

“As we start the daily ritualistic worship, we ring the bell, chanting: Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam Gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam Kurve ghantaaravam tatra Devataahvaahna lakshanam. Meaning; I ring this bell indicating the invocation of divinity, So that virtuous and noble forces Enter (my home and heart); And the demonic and evil forces from within and without, depart.”

This would allow devotees to focus all their senses, making them acutely aware of themselves and the universe to which they belong to as this eliminates distracting sounds and helps the mind to concentrate on the object of worship.

Lastly, it is interesting to see how a mere bell plays such an important role to us Hindus while prayers are performed. I will however, get deeper into this subject and find out the significance of the other musical instruments that are used during prayers as well…once I have penned it down for the next issue! ■