Culture: An Invaluable Asset
It is said about the Sanskars – जन्मना जायते शुद्र, संस्काराद् द्विज उच्यते। Through Sanskar’s, the living being becomes resplendent like a gem. Sanskar, civilization, and culture, all three values are our heritage. This is the protective shield and nourishment of all three. Civilization means our way of life, dress, and customs, culture means the way of life and Sanskar means our conduct and thoughts. The process of making the ordinary state of life better and better is called Sanskar. Sanskar means improving, beautifying, or modifying. To get the right results in every situation, our sages gave a program of 16 rituals from conception to death, so that the person's lifestyle becomes excellent.
1. Conception- Under this ritual, men and women pray for the birth of a good child.
2. Punsavan- This happens in the third month – at this time power is given through mantras.
3. Seemantonayan- This happens in the 7th and 8th month. In Marwari, it is called Sadh Puja. This is a mind development program for children. This is the time to resolve to make the child mentally strong.
These three rituals are performed during pregnancy.
4. Jaatkarma- Under this, 'Om' is written on the child's tongue by dipping a silver wire in honey. This is a rite of passage immediately after birth.
5. Naming- In this, naming is done according to the zodiac sign. The vibration of the child comes from the name by which he is called. This is the vision statement of life.
6. Nishkraman Sanskar- When the child leaves the house for the first time. It means to interact with the external environment and society. That's why we first take him to the temple. Here there is a feeling of activation of all the five senses - 1. Seeing the idol (eyes) 2. Sound of the bell (ears) 3. The priest puts the crown of God on the head as a blessing (skin) 4. The fragrance of camphor aarti. Olfactory sense (nose) 5. Charanamrit affects the gustatory sense (tongue).
7. Annaprashana- This is done in the 6th month. When the child is old enough to take some solid food, he is first fed kheer with a silver rupee.
8. Chudakarma- Which is called Mundan or Jadula in Marwari. This is an important ritual of brain development. This is done around the 11th month when the child turns 1 year old. Due to falling of hair on the head, sun rays fall on the head, due to which the child gets Vitamin K. This develops the brain. The child becomes brilliant.
9. Ear piercing- The brain point is near the ear, ear piercing is done there. This provides energy to the brain and develops the brain.
10. Vidyarambh- On the auspicious time of Basant Panchami, after worshiping Saraswati, they give a slate, and first of all they get 'Om' written and called. This means that all the sound from opening the mouth to closing the mouth is included. In our culture, first only Om is taught.
11. Upanayan- Janeu- Its three strings are the form of three Vedas.
12. Samavartan- Returning home after completing studies from Guru's house, this is the Samavartan Sanskar.
13. Marriage- It is a resolution that our relationship should be very good and friendly. This is Saptapadi.
14. Vanaprastha- Detachment practice from 60 to 75. To free oneself by handing over the responsibility of the household to the children.
15. Renunciation- Samyak Nyas is renunciation. May the journey of life be completed with the feeling of me and my God.
16. Funeral- This is performed by the elder son.
Sanskar refines our nature and limits it. Every Sanskar is a commitment made to oneself. But culture is created and preserved only through rituals. The purpose of 16 samskaras is to purify and strengthen the body, mind, and brain so that a person can play his role in society ideally. We must ensure that the child is educated. Still, four to five types of Sanskar influence a person:
1. A person brings with him the samskaras according to the deeds of his previous birth. We have also seen that some children understand Geeta, Ramayana, and Shrimad Bhagavatam easily at an early age. Therefore, some children are normal, some are special, and some are very special.
2. Hereditary values which are received from parents and teachers. Mother has been called the mint of values. Family morals have a deep impact on the child. Family values were also helpful in producing excellent children like Veer Shivaji and Swami Vivekananda.
3. Culture imparted by education – Education, which educates the person. The present education system is educating but not inculcating.
4. Due to women's professional engagement in food and drink, today hotel culture is dominating the new generation. Even at home, kitchen arrangements are being managed by servants. Due to this, integrity is coming to an end. Which affects the mind and intellect of the person.
5. Environment- Our lifestyle, company, surroundings, etc. have an impact on our values. Today, on the one hand, there is a nuclear family, on the other hand, both parents are busy earning money due to the economy. Children's childhood is developing with servants or in foster homes. When children grow up, satellite channels, computers, the internet etc. become their companions in the name of company and companionship. In such a situation, it is becoming rare to preserve the values.
Sanskar is the path of life and is the backbone of humanity. It is only on the strength of values that our society was energetic and will be able to become energetic. Take a flower for example, it does not bloom suddenly, for that we have to take care of proper air, water and soil arrangements, only then the plant develops and the flower blooms and spreads its fragrance. Carving even a rock reveals a beautiful shape. In the same way, values also work to shape a person.
The fragrance of flowers mixed with the subtle touch of air makes the entire surroundings fragrant. Similarly, virtuous conduct is for the welfare of all people.
Conclusion
Our values are in our hands, their preservation is extremely important. In the words of Swami Vivekananda – If there is a famine of grains, humans die; if there is a famine of values, humanity dies.
