(b) question: "Outline" - the sacred thread (Upanayana) is only for twice-born males, happens during age 8-12 - the family priest chooes the best day - the boy shaves hair, but leaves a tuft of hair on the crown, he is given new clothes, but wears a dhoti, and has a red mark on his forehead - the boy kneels and learns the Gayatri mantra; he also eats on the same plate with his mother - ghee is offered to Agni, the fire deity, to ensure the right to study (initiation into the Brahmacharya ashrama) - the loop of cotton is blessed via sprinkling of holy water - prayers are made to the sun deity
(c) question: "Explain" - one of the 16 Samskars - only for twice-born males, who are more spiritually pure and developed - it enables the right to study (the Scriptures) with a guru, and the right to perform puja - it signifies independence from parents; traditionally the young boy would go to study with a guru in his gurukula (in the forest); this also implies forming a more personal relationship with Brahman
(c) question: "Explain how it shows values" - value of purity: the ceremony is performed with the guidance of a priest, who is a Brahmin, therefore more spiritually developed and will bring good karma - value of purity: boy shaves, given new clothes, the loop of cotton is sprinkled with holy water - value of family and community dharma: the father performs the ceremony, the mother eats her "last meal" with her son from the same plate - value of honouring the deities: ghee offered to Agni the fire deity, prayers are made to the sun deity
Finally, everything brings good karma, in order to escape samsara, and to achieve moksha. :)
(b) question: "Outline"
ReplyDelete- the sacred thread (Upanayana) is only for twice-born males, happens during age 8-12
- the family priest chooes the best day
- the boy shaves hair, but leaves a tuft of hair on the crown, he is given new clothes, but wears a dhoti, and has a red mark on his forehead
- the boy kneels and learns the Gayatri mantra; he also eats on the same plate with his mother
- ghee is offered to Agni, the fire deity, to ensure the right to study (initiation into the Brahmacharya ashrama)
- the loop of cotton is blessed via sprinkling of holy water
- prayers are made to the sun deity
(c) question: "Explain"
- one of the 16 Samskars
- only for twice-born males, who are more spiritually pure and developed
- it enables the right to study (the Scriptures) with a guru, and the right to perform puja
- it signifies independence from parents; traditionally the young boy would go to study with a guru in his gurukula (in the forest); this also implies forming a more personal relationship with Brahman
(c) question: "Explain how it shows values"
- value of purity: the ceremony is performed with the guidance of a priest, who is a Brahmin, therefore more spiritually developed and will bring good karma
- value of purity: boy shaves, given new clothes, the loop of cotton is sprinkled with holy water
- value of family and community dharma: the father performs the ceremony, the mother eats her "last meal" with her son from the same plate
- value of honouring the deities: ghee offered to Agni the fire deity, prayers are made to the sun deity
Finally, everything brings good karma, in order to escape samsara, and to achieve moksha. :)