Defining Samaskar As Kashmiri Traditions-Part 1
Sanjeev Munshi
Samaskars, in Hinduism, can loosely be understood as Milestone in an Individual's Journey of Life from Conception to Cremation.
Samskaras in Hinduism, can loosely be understood as milestones in an individual's journey of life, from conception to cremation The word Samskara (Sanskrit (T) has various context-driven meanings, including preparation, purification and perfection from one's past state to one's future state, the purification of body by cleansing and mind by education. The term appears in the Erutis, and in the Smritis of diverse schools of Hinduism as well as the texts of Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism (all Indian origin schools of thought) The term appears in Jaimini Purva Mimamsa sutra (500-200 BCE) many times, where it again means to "prepare perfect, polish something either through action, speech or mind training.
Traditional Hindu code of conduct places emphasis primarily on two qualities in a human being, which distinguish him from animals- education (vidya) and proper social and religious conduct (samskar) Of the two, education is more important because the other (samskar) does not come without it Samskara giving shape to such excellent qualities as inner balance, refinement, polished and civilised behaviour In Hindu traditions, a human being is born at least twice (Dwi))-once at the time of physical birth through mother's womb, and second by intellectual birth through Guru's guidance The first is marked through Jatakarman samskara ritual, the second one is marked through Vidyarambha or Upanayana samskara ritual.
Samskaras, as rituals, vary in number and detail according to regional traditions. These range from 40 samskaras listed in the Gautama Dharmasutra to 12-18 in certain Grhyasutra texts while Manusmiti mentions only 13 Various Grhyasutratexts, it appears, were drafted by various Rishis and were followed an ing some geographical areas across India, attaining some local colour, over time! We find mention of Kaushtaki, Agniveshya Grhyasutra, Sankhayana Grihya Sutra Asvalayana Grihya Sutra, Paraskar Grhyasutra, Katyayana And Khadira Grhyasutra Kashmir is said to follow the Grhyasutra propounded by Laugakshi (Laukakshi) Mahamuni, also known as the Kathaka Grhyasutra While most of the Crya Sutras list out 16 Samskaras, the Laugakshi Grhya Sutras list out 24 Samskaras, namely
बीजवापनम, सीमन्तकरणम, पुंसवन, जातकरणम,
नामकरणम, सूर्यदर्शन, चन्द्रदर्शनम, अन्नप्राशनम
चूडाकरणम, उपायनम, अविष्यकम, उपाकर्रम चातुर्होतृकम
चातुर्होतृकापवर्ग:, प्रवर्गयव्रतम प्रवर्गयव्रतापवर्गः
अरूणव्रतम, अरूणव्रतापवर्ग:, औपनिषदव्रतम, श्रीकाम:,
यशस्काम:, औपनिषदत्रतापवर्ग: गौदानम्, त्रैविध्यकापवर्गः
The main Samskaras as recognized all over India (including Kashmir) are:
1 Garbhadan/Bijwapan Samskar (decision or intent to have a child)
2 Pumsavana Samskar
3. Simantonnayana Samskar
4 Jatakarman Samskar (Kah Nyether - at birth)
5 Namakarana Samskara (10 or 12 day)
6. Nishkramana Samskara (Baby's first day out after completion of 1 month of age)
7 Annaprashanam Samskara (First solid food at 6 months age)
8. Chudakarana Samskara (Zarr Kasay, in Kashmiri, age 1 or 3)
9 Karnavedha Samskar (Kan Tchombun-age 3 or 5)
10. Vidyarambha Samskar (age 5 first exposure to lipi, ganit or musical instrument)
11. Upanayana Samskar (age 8)
12 Vedarambha Samskar
13 Keshanta Samskar (first shave for boys at puberty)
14. Ritusuiddhi Samskara (for girls at menarche)
15. Samavartana Samskar
16 Vivaha Samskar
17. Antyeshti Samskar
Some Samskars may involve formal ceremonies, yajna (fire) ceremonies with the chanting of Vedic hymns. Others are simple, private affairs involving a couple, with or without friends or other families or a religious person such as a priest or a pandit .
Two major fallacies, unfortunately, have taken root in contemporary discussions )
Samskaras are prescribed for men only, not girls/women. Nothing could be farther from
truth, whether one studies Dharma Shastras or observes traditions followed in different societies )
Samskaras are prescribed only for Brahmins or Upper castes. Another myth perpetuated to create divisions in Hindu society.
Special : Samskars Observed by kashmiri Pandits
1. Truy (rituals performed on Day 3 of birth)
2. Shraan Sunder (First bath with water boiled in medicinal herbs on 7/9 or 11 day)
3 Tsatjihim Doh (Ritualistic bath on 40 day of birth)
4. Vohorvod: First Birthday Celebration .
5. Mangyith Anun Rituals associated with child adoption (Dattak)
While each Samskar has its importance and value, in Kashmiri Pandit society the Upanayana, (Mekhala or Mekhal in Kashmiri) probably was considered as important as the marriage samskara In fact, marriage before Mekhal was not possible!
Upanayana Samskar represents achild's entrance into school Upanayana (Sanskrit 3414) literally means "the act of leading" The rite symbolises drawing towards 'self' of a child, in a school, by a teacher. It is a ceremony in which a Guru (teacher) accepts and draws a child towards knowledge and initiates the second birth (Dwif) Yajnopavita ceremony announces that the child has entered into formal education and would start living with the Guru at his Gurukul (boarding school of the Guru) Several texts such as Sushruta Sutrasthana, mention that education and Upanayana samskara was open to everyone, including girls Girls who underwent this ritual to pursue studies were called Brahmavadini. Those who did not study, Upanayana ceremony was performed at the time of their wedding Upanayana is an elaborate ceremony, that included rituals involving the family, the child and the teacher During this ceremony, a child receives a sacred thread called Yagnopaveetham (Yon in Kashmiri), that he wears lifelong.
Upanayana ceremony is different from Vidyarambha Samskar that signifies" beginning of study, the child's formal attempt to learn means of knowledge at the age of 5 The ceremony is observed for all children of age 5, on Vijayadasami, the tenth day of Shukla Paksh (bright half) of Ashvin Masa (September- October) It includes a prayer to goddess Saraswati and deity Ganesh, a teacher is invited or the parents themselves work with the child, Samskars Observed by Kashmiri to write Lipi (alphabet), draw Samkiya (numbers) or pictures, and sometimes play with a musical instrument.
Education of a student was not limited to ritual and philosophical discussions found in the Vedas and the Upanishads It included several arts and crafts, which had their specific though similar rites. Aitareya Brahmana, Agamas and Puranic literature describe these as Shilpa Sastras, covering diverse arts such as sculpture, pottery, perfumery painting. weaving, architecture, dance and music etc. Ancient Indian texts assert that the number of the arts is unlimited, but each deploys elements of 64 kala hell, techniques) and 32 vidyas (fre fields of knowledge) The training of these began from childhood, and included studies about dharma, culture, reading, writing, mathematics, geometry, colours, tools, as well as traditions (trade secrets) The rituals during apprentice education varied in the respective arts and crafts.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
Courtesy:- Sanjeev Munshi and 2023 June Koshur Samachar