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.

SUGAR ‘N SPICE by Devinia Dass

The Indian bangle ceremony or the valai kaapu is a function held in conjunction with the seventh or ninth month of an expectant mother in the expectant mother's house. This ceremony is only conducted during the first pregnancy.

The expectant mother would be made to sit in the middle of a rather elaborate spread of rose water, fruits, sweets and flowers. The ceremony is conducted by the womenfolk, who will bless the expectant mother with the fruits, flowers and sweets.

The womenfolk will add glass bangles to the expectant mother's hands, rub sandalwood paste on her cheeks and face, place red vermillion on her forehead and add fresh jasmine to her hair. Every married lady guest invited to the function is expected to perform these functions as a form of blessing towards the expectant mother.

The expectant mother will be handed an ammi kallu or grinding stone by each one of the womenfolk. This ritual symbolizes the womenfolk asking the expectant mother to give birth to a child as strong as the grinding stone. The ammi kallu is exchanged three times between the expectant mother and the womenfolk, symbolizing the womenfolk asking the expectant mother to give birth to more children.

Once these ladies perform these rituals they are given a little gift consisting of red vermillion, a yellow string and a few glass bangles as a sign of appreciation for the blessings given to the expectant mother. When all the womenfolk have blessed the expectant mother, the ' arathy ' tray is moved in circular motions in front of the expectant mother to ward off the evil eye.

In some functions, the expectant mother is told to bend over and stand while a banana leaf is held behind her and milk is poured down the banana leaf. This is to signify a safe journey for the newborn baby during childbirth. Although this seems to look like an uncomfortable position for a pregnant mother to stand in, it has been medically proven that this position eases the whole childbirth process.

In some functions also, the father of the baby is asked to pick between sweet rice, tamarind rice and yogurt rice wrapped in banana leaves. This practice, in pre-ultrasound days, was said to be used to determine the gender of the baby.

By the end of this ceremony, the expectant mother will have many bangles on her hand which will be there till the day she goes into labour. It is believed that these bangles make a pleasant tinkling sound which can be heard by the baby in the womb.

REVO’S CORNER by Kuhanesh Mahendra

Tonsuring or mundan is an important ceremony in Hindu communities. The mundan ceremony performed by Hindus is done on the 30^th or 31^st day from the infant’s birth depending on their respective customs. This hair shaving ceremony is also done by Muslims and Chinese.

The first haircut is an important ritual and it is believed that shaving the hair rids the child of his past life's negativity. Some believe that a mundan bestows a long life, a better future and also protects the child from the evil eye. In some communities, the hair on a newborn’s head is considered impure and it is believed that only a mundan can cleanse the child’s body and soul.

Scientifically, a mundan helps release excess body heat and keeps the baby's head cool. Some also believe that a mundan helps relieve headache and pains associated with teething. It is also a common belief that shaving off the hair stimulates cells and improves blood circulation, which may help in the growth of better and thicker hair.

The mundan ceremony is considered a purification ritual and is done on a specific day at an auspicious time that is decided by the priest based on the time of the birth. A homam is performed by a priest to pray for the well- being of the child and to purity the house in which the mother and child have been staying while in post-delivery quarantine or thudakku.

The baby is held by the maternal uncle or thai maman and the priest shaves of a small portion of the baby’s hair. Then, a barber who specializes in mundan ceremonies shaves off the rest of the hair. In some families, the father performs the initial ceremony instead of the priest. The shaven head is washed with holy water and a paste of turmeric and sandalwood is applied. It is believed that this mixture cools the head and helps nicks and cuts to heal faster. The shaved off hair is either offered to a deity or to a sacred river like the Ganga. The priest offers specific instructions on how the hair should be disposed. In some cultures, a tuft of hair is left on the head and is said that it protects the brain.

Every family has its own traditions for performing the mundan ceremony. Some perform it at home inviting the priest and relatives to bless the child. Others may ask the barber to come home after their priest gives them an auspicious day and time. Nowadays, many choose to take their children to a salon where special mundan haircuts may be offered. Some families may even have a family tradition where they take their child to a holy place, a temple or to the banks of a holy river like the Ganga, for the first haircut.

The head shaving ceremony is often associated with the baby naming ceremony. After the head shaving, the father whisper’s the baby’s name three times into his right ear. This is followed by the mother and other elders who will also whisper the baby’s name into his ear.

ADHI SIDDHA by Sashi Vadivale

The Hindu religion is rich with customs and tradition. Temple worship and religious observance mostly revolves around God. There are some observances in our religion that revolves around ourselves. Each Hindu’s biological milestone and important turning point in life is marked by a ceremony. The grandeur of the ceremony is up to the individual, but tradition has guide lines on them. Prior to birth till death, each important milestone is marked in a Hindu’s journey in life.

These events can be as simple as prayer in a home shrine or by an elaborate pooja.

Some of these ceremonies would be followed by a feast depending on the grandeur of the ceremony. During these pomp occasions, work load would be plenty. Family and friends would draw close to lend support, thus bonding the ties among them. It also reminds each family member of his duty towards the family. The role of the maternal uncle is important during the wedding ceremony as there are duties specifically to be discharged by him. During funerals, the in-laws of the deceased family are to lend support by providing meals on the funeral day.

Most of the rites of passage require the support of the priest. The priest invokes God, Devas (guardian angels) and at times the ancestors to bless the celebrated individual’s progress. The priest is then rewarded with cash and gifts. Our scriptures also encouraged to feed those less fortunate during this time. This nurtures charity in the giver.

Some of these rites not only help the celebrated individual, but also the family members. Funeral rites do not only prepare the deceased to the inner world; the rituals performed by the family members in the funeral provide a way to mitigate their sorrow.

These rites in my point of view, give me a sense of belonging to an ancient religion.

Funeral rites were not only as way to say good bye to loved one, but brought me closer in my understanding of Hinduism. Weddings I truly enjoy as I get to party and show off my best traditional attire. The ceremony also enlightens me that God is present in every important journey in life. By practicing these rites, I feel that each important step in life is bringing me close to Him.

“The essential samskaras are the rites of conception, the three-month blessing, hair-parting, birth, name-giving, head-shaving, first feeding, ear-piercing, first learning, puberty, marriage, elders' vows and last rites.”

- Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

FEATURE ARTICLE by Dr. K. Thilagawathi

Why Kantha Sasthi is 7 days

By Dr. K.Thilagawathi, Chairman, Religious Advisory Committee, Malaysian Ceylon Saivaites Association

The thithi, sashti, is auspicious for Lord Muruhan

Amongst the auspicious days for Lord Muruhan, the sashti fast is significant. The days of Kantha Sashti Fast are more significant than the monthly sashti fast.

Amongst the days that occur between the pirathamai thithi and the sashti thithi (inclusive of both the thithis),on the bright side of the moon in the month of Aippasi (mid-October to mid-November), it is customary to observe complete fast and conduct the Soorasamhaaram on the day of sashti fast, and to conduct the paarana poojaa and thirukkalyaanam the next day. Pirathamai means ‘one’; sashti means ‘six’. The Kantha Sashti Fast generally lasts for six days. Nevertheless, it is history that this fast lasts for 5 days or 7 days during certain years (1). What is the reason for this controversy?


A day and a thithi are two different measurements of time

The moon is said to wax and wane in subsequent curved layers. The time span for each curved layer (kalai) is known as a thithi. The time span of a day is not identical with that of a thithi. A thithi generally commences in the midst of a day and ends in the midst of the following day. As an illustration, let us see the time spans of the thithis which occur during the days of the Kantha Sashti Fast in 2008.

Each of the six thithis prevail for more than 24 hours. The sadhurtthi thithi, which occurs for the longest time (26 hours 5 minutes) prevails for 2 days. Apart from this, there are times when a thithi prevails for less than 24 hours. For instance, during the month of Aippasi in the year, Sarvathaari, the panjami thithi and sashti thithi respectively last for 20 hours 39 minutes and 21 hours 39 minutes during the dark side of the moon. Hence, both these thithis are given as occurring on the same day, i.e., Sunday 19-10-2008.

Therefore it becomes clear that the Kantha Sashti Fast is observed for 7 days when one thithi occurs for 2 days, and for 5 days when 2 thithis occur on the same day.

The Kantha Sashti Fast of 2008

ü All panjaanggams concur on the date for the commencement of the Kantha Sashti fast. The day is Wednesday 29-10-2008. The thithi, pirathamai, spans for the entire day.

ü All panjaanggams indicate Tuesday 4-11-2008 as the day to observe the ‘sashti fast’(2).

ü Although the Kantha Sashti Fast generally comes to a completion after the Soora- samhaaram, its full completion takes effect, the next day when a devotee takes his/her full meal after the morning poojaa, which is usually called the paarana poojaa.

If Soorasamhaaram takes place on 3-11-2008, paarana poojaa will have to take place in the morning of the following day, i.e. 4-11-2008 followed by Thirukkalyaanam the same evening; but all panjaanggams have fixed 4-11-2008 for the sashti fast.

Religious scholars and authorities have said that those who are not able to observe the strict Kantha Sashti fast for the entire period of six days (5 or 7 days at times), may take a meal for the first five days (4 or 6 days at times) and observe the fast on the day of sashti thithi. If the Kantha Sashti fast is completed in the morning of the day, the sashti fast is to be observed, that will become an offense of not observing the fast completely.


CONCLUSION

Therefore, completing the sashti fast at night on 4-11-2008 (the day fixed for the sashti fast) and having the paarana poojaa in the morning of Wednesday 5-11-2008, will lend a thorough fulfilment to the fast. Consequently, the Soorasamhaaram will have to take place in the evening of the sashti fast (4-11-2008), so that the fast can be completed subsequent to the Soorasamhaaram.