CHILD’S TONGUE & HEART
Before entry of Kama (lust), Gayatri
Mata should beat it in entry. If we do upanayanam in 17-20 years of age, even
beyond the legal age of marriage as per Sarada Act, will there be Brahmanyam
(characteristic of brahmana)? Will there be Brahmavarchas (internal brilliance
of Brahman)? Or, will there be pimples in face and the forms of various women
in heart owing to the passion of lust? Before the impurity of lust develops in
the mind, Jaganmatha’s Gayatri should be established in the heart with
devotion. Smriti says that once the boy is 16 years of age, he should be
treated as a friend. If we do upanayanam after the boy becomes our friend, we
have failed in our duty to our son. If Samskrit words are introduced after 16
years of age, experienced people can recognise how beautiful that language
becomes in his mouth! One who has not grasped Gayatri mantra before 8,
cannot attain siddhi (success) of any mantra. There will also be no
Brahmavarchas. For one who has not learnt Samskrit alphabet, pronunciation will
be faulty. With the firm aim that our succeeding generations should have
Brahmavarchas and mantrasiddhi, all should make efforts everywhere immediately
on birth of Thai month, for performing upanayanam for all children over 8 years
of age without distinction of small, big, poor or rich with no exception.
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The term ‘upanayanam’ means ‘leading the boy close’; referring to
leading close to Guru. In the same way there is a kriya called ‘Samavarthanam’
before marriage. That means ‘returning’. As per Sastras, there is required to
be a time gap of minimum of 12 years between upanayanam and Samavarthanam. For
12 years the boy should study Vedas and six Vedangas in Gurukula itself.
In the six Vedangas, mathematics, grammar, glossary of words etc. are a part. The child should be made to follow at least for some time in childhood the intent of the three sentences uttered during upanayanam, “Brahmachari asi” (You are Brahmachari- intent on gaining knowledge of Brahman); ”Acharyaadhino bhava” (Be subservient to Teacher); “Bhikshacharyam chara” (Follow the livelihood of alms). In olden days even if the child is of royal lineage, he had to go and stay at gurukulam and spend some time in surrender to Guru. Even if his learning was meagre, it was greatly supportive in his life and was the foundation for acquiring the power of mantra, clear Gnana, or lofty qualities. Have we not heard in Kuchelopakhyanam the story of how the child of a very poor brahmana and another child of royal lineage surrendered to a poor Guru and how they enjoyed equal status, suffered the same difficulties and observed the brahmacharya vratam (vow)? Did not Krishna and Sudama, while in Gurukulam in surrender to Guru Sandipini, serve the Guru in a cyclone? In future if at least a little of the power of mantra, lofty qualities, devotion causing obliteration of ego, gnana, strength to sacrifice everything and fight for dharma and the tolerance of difficulties of any kind are to survive, then we should avoid performing upanayanam for boys past the right time and perform in the right time of 7-8 years of age. They should be brought under the control of elders who have studied Veda and Sastra to some extent and made to practise at least a little of Pranayamam, Asanam, Dhyanam, Japa and surrender with devotion as applicable to children. Now we have difficulty in even finding a person with whom we can leave the child. Considering that study of Vedas or Sastras does not lead to good livelihood, all have switched to English, hotel or cinema. This is not good for our Dharma. It is not only not good; it actually cuts at the root of Dharma. If we proceed this way, it will become difficult to find persons knowing Veda and Sastra. To stop this trend is the duty of all of us. Our duty being study of Veda and Sastra, we have not only failed in it, but we have also somehow taken to the conduct, qualities, food and livelihood diametrically opposed to our religion. What we must do first is that we must avert further fall in our standards of adopting the above mentioned four dharmas by firming up our minds and thus protect ourselves. Next we must recognise our duty to honour and protect those elders to the best of our ability, who, unlike us, who have left everything, have protected Veda, Sastra and observance of karmas and thus proved very useful to us on occasions. We must thus become eligible to receive their blessings. Now there are many types of sacrificers. True sacrificers are those far-sighted virtuous persons, who, even in the midst of this immorality, decide with firm minds to put their children in the study of Vedas and Sastras, leave the results to the Almighty and think ‘it is creditable to preserve without discontinuity the Vedas, which have come to us from Brahma onwards in our lineage’.
In the six Vedangas, mathematics, grammar, glossary of words etc. are a part. The child should be made to follow at least for some time in childhood the intent of the three sentences uttered during upanayanam, “Brahmachari asi” (You are Brahmachari- intent on gaining knowledge of Brahman); ”Acharyaadhino bhava” (Be subservient to Teacher); “Bhikshacharyam chara” (Follow the livelihood of alms). In olden days even if the child is of royal lineage, he had to go and stay at gurukulam and spend some time in surrender to Guru. Even if his learning was meagre, it was greatly supportive in his life and was the foundation for acquiring the power of mantra, clear Gnana, or lofty qualities. Have we not heard in Kuchelopakhyanam the story of how the child of a very poor brahmana and another child of royal lineage surrendered to a poor Guru and how they enjoyed equal status, suffered the same difficulties and observed the brahmacharya vratam (vow)? Did not Krishna and Sudama, while in Gurukulam in surrender to Guru Sandipini, serve the Guru in a cyclone? In future if at least a little of the power of mantra, lofty qualities, devotion causing obliteration of ego, gnana, strength to sacrifice everything and fight for dharma and the tolerance of difficulties of any kind are to survive, then we should avoid performing upanayanam for boys past the right time and perform in the right time of 7-8 years of age. They should be brought under the control of elders who have studied Veda and Sastra to some extent and made to practise at least a little of Pranayamam, Asanam, Dhyanam, Japa and surrender with devotion as applicable to children. Now we have difficulty in even finding a person with whom we can leave the child. Considering that study of Vedas or Sastras does not lead to good livelihood, all have switched to English, hotel or cinema. This is not good for our Dharma. It is not only not good; it actually cuts at the root of Dharma. If we proceed this way, it will become difficult to find persons knowing Veda and Sastra. To stop this trend is the duty of all of us. Our duty being study of Veda and Sastra, we have not only failed in it, but we have also somehow taken to the conduct, qualities, food and livelihood diametrically opposed to our religion. What we must do first is that we must avert further fall in our standards of adopting the above mentioned four dharmas by firming up our minds and thus protect ourselves. Next we must recognise our duty to honour and protect those elders to the best of our ability, who, unlike us, who have left everything, have protected Veda, Sastra and observance of karmas and thus proved very useful to us on occasions. We must thus become eligible to receive their blessings. Now there are many types of sacrificers. True sacrificers are those far-sighted virtuous persons, who, even in the midst of this immorality, decide with firm minds to put their children in the study of Vedas and Sastras, leave the results to the Almighty and think ‘it is creditable to preserve without discontinuity the Vedas, which have come to us from Brahma onwards in our lineage’.
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Every religion has its vitality preserved in a certain principle. Christianity’s vitality lies in winning over people through riches etc. in tune with government. Period of drought is the season of growth for that religion. Islam has its life in oppression and cruelty. Hence mutiny is the season of growth for it. For the Vedic Hindu religion, the vitality lies in aacharam (conduct), control of mantras through it and knowledge of Truth through it. Its growth happens in period of peace and harmony. Those who have migrated to other religions from Hinduism generally are those who are in the lower strata of society and who could be misled by show of money etc. Some towering scholars of other religions have developed great love of Hinduism and though they could not formally join Hinduism, which is dependent on one’s birth, they voluntarily follow the basic principles of Hinduism.
Every religion has its vitality preserved in a certain principle. Christianity’s vitality lies in winning over people through riches etc. in tune with government. Period of drought is the season of growth for that religion. Islam has its life in oppression and cruelty. Hence mutiny is the season of growth for it. For the Vedic Hindu religion, the vitality lies in aacharam (conduct), control of mantras through it and knowledge of Truth through it. Its growth happens in period of peace and harmony. Those who have migrated to other religions from Hinduism generally are those who are in the lower strata of society and who could be misled by show of money etc. Some towering scholars of other religions have developed great love of Hinduism and though they could not formally join Hinduism, which is dependent on one’s birth, they voluntarily follow the basic principles of Hinduism.
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Hence brahmanas, who are duty bound to protect aacharam (conduct), power of mantra and knowledge of Truth, should perform upanayanam of their children earlier than 8 years of age before kama (lust) gets into them. They should see that the children spend at least some time in Gurukulam, getting introduced to the power of meditation on Gayatri Matha and attainment of the power of mantra and later they should regulate their learning and life as required in the world without giving scope for many defects. Brahmanas should protect our Vedic dharma by encouraging at least some of the brahmanas to study Vedas, Sastras and rituals. Before every upanayanam, the parents should get elders who know the meanings of Vedic dharmas to come two days in advance; the boy and his father should listen patiently to their explanation of the meanings of all mantras right from beginning to end and the purport of the kriyas. Even now there are some rare persons here and there, who know the meanings of mantras. It is of more significant benefit to make children grasp the meanings of mantras in upanayanam rather than encouraging arts like music, dance etc.
Hence brahmanas, who are duty bound to protect aacharam (conduct), power of mantra and knowledge of Truth, should perform upanayanam of their children earlier than 8 years of age before kama (lust) gets into them. They should see that the children spend at least some time in Gurukulam, getting introduced to the power of meditation on Gayatri Matha and attainment of the power of mantra and later they should regulate their learning and life as required in the world without giving scope for many defects. Brahmanas should protect our Vedic dharma by encouraging at least some of the brahmanas to study Vedas, Sastras and rituals. Before every upanayanam, the parents should get elders who know the meanings of Vedic dharmas to come two days in advance; the boy and his father should listen patiently to their explanation of the meanings of all mantras right from beginning to end and the purport of the kriyas. Even now there are some rare persons here and there, who know the meanings of mantras. It is of more significant benefit to make children grasp the meanings of mantras in upanayanam rather than encouraging arts like music, dance etc.
In this Veda Dharma Sastra Paripalana Sabha, two examinations called
Dharmagna and Grihyagna are being conducted and some honorarium is being given
to those who pass. The addresses of those who have passed such examinations and
living in different areas will be furnished to devotees of the respective areas
on request.
The true protection of our religion is this: Upanayanam before 8 years
of age; attainment of the power of Gayatri Devi’s mantra in that unsullied age.
Om Tat Sat
(My humble
salutations to the lotus feet of Sri
Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Mahaswamy ji humble greatfulness to VEDA DHARMA SASTRA PARIPALANA SABHA also to
Brahmasri Sreeman P R Kannan ji
for the collection)
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