What Inspired Us

What inspired for BRĀHMĀṆYĀM™ Initiated?

The belief that people born in brahmin caste, automatically become brahmins, is a much later concept in the very ancient land of India. In the pre-Gita period (before the beginning of the OTHER eras) a Brahmin was a person who had attained highest spiritual knowledge (brahmavidya). This was an extremely difficult path of discipline of body, mind , and intellect, and people irrespective of their birth or class, who dedicated to such an austere life were recognized as brahmins.

A great example of this tradition (that a person becoming a brahmin, rather than born as one) is the case of Vishwamitra, a warrior (kshatriya), who became a brahmin after attaining brahmavidya, and composed the Gayatri Mantra, the most sacred hymn of the Hindus.

A smritis, or code of conduct composed by sage Atri defines brahminhood very clearly:

"By birth, every man is a Shudra (an ignorant person). Through various types of disciplines (samskaras), he becomes a dwija (twice born). Through the studies of scriptures, he becomes a vipra (or a scholar). Through realization of supreme spirit (brahmajnana), he becomes a brahmin."

The Bhagavad-Gita divides the class of people into four categories of Brahmana, Kshtriya, Vaishya, and Shudra depending on the traits (svabhava) inherent in individuals.

It is the culture or refinement distinguishes mankind from its fellow creatures. It took a very very long time for the human beings to evolve certain norms or disciplines which were considered 'a must' in a civilized society. Slowly such social norms were  transformed into religious rites or rituals typical of each community. Hindu samskars (a.k.a. samskaras) which symbolize disciplinary rites, were evolved over four millennia to make a house-holder's life refined and useful. From birth to death, sixteen samskars or rites of refinement are laid down by sastras and religious texts.

These samskars (or samskaras) are considered stepping stones in shaping a perfect individual in Hindu society. They were meant to be purify the person by observing of which a person became 'susamskrit' (civilized or refined).

The word samskar is evolved from the root 'samskri' which means to purify or form thoroughly. Samskriti (civilization) and Sanskrit are derived from this root 'samskri'. Sanskrit was considered the most refined and grammatically perfect language compared to other regional languages in ancient times.

The sixteen samskaras laid down by Hindu religious texts are:

• Garbhadana – is performed by a married couple when conceiving a child. This important Samskara raises the act of conception to a sacred occasion, and is powerfully purifying and uplifting for the unborn child.
• Pumsavana – is usually performed between the second and fourth month of pregnancy. Its purpose is: to insure the good health of the foetus and the proper formation of its organs, so that the family line and tradition will perpetuate thorugh the baby.
• Simantonoyana – In the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy, the mind of the foetus begins to develop. This is when simantonoyana Samskara is performed. Its purpose is to protect the foetus–especially its newly forming mind–from all negative influences, and also to stimulate the development of the unborn child’s intellect.
• Jatakarma is the ritual performed at the birth of a child noting the birth time and star and thus create a birth chart which is suppose to be the blue print of ones life.
• Namakarana – On the eleventh day after the child’s birth, namakarana Samskara is performed. In this ceremony, the child receives its name.
• Nishkramana – The baby’s first outing into the world, beyond the confines of the home.
• Annaprashana – The first feeding of solid food to the baby, usually in the sixth month after birth.
• Karnavedha – usually performed in the sixth or seventh month after birth, consists of the piercing of the baby’s ear lobes, so earrings may be worn.
• Chudakarana – At the end of the first year after birth, or during the third year, the child’s hair is shaved–all but a tuft on the top of the head. This ritual shaving of hair, performed with ceremony, prayers, and chanting of Vedic hymns, is chudakarana Samskara This Samskara is for both boys and girls.
• Vidyarambha – begins a student’s primary education by ceremonially introducing the child to the alphabet.
• Upanayana – initiates the formal study of the Vedas. It is one of the most important and esteemed of the samskaras. Upon performance of Upanayana, a boy traditionally moves from home to live in the ashram of the guru.
• Samavartana – With samavartana Samskara the disciple graduates from his Vedic studies and returns from the house of his guru. Thereafter, the disciple will marry and raise a family, and so enter the stage of householder, grihasthashrama.
• Vivaha – The traditional Hindu wedding ceremony is known as vivaha Samskara It is considered by many to be the most important of all the samskaras.
• Panchamahayagna – A married couple performs the panchamahayajna, or five great sacrifices, daily. In this Samskara, one honours, in turn, the rishis, the gods, the parents, humankind, and all created beings.
• Vanaprastha – According to the Vedic tradition, vanaprastha is the third stage of life, following brahmacharya (Vedic student/disciple) and grihasta (householder). Here, a one leaves behind ones life in the world and retires to the forest (or serving the society), to live an ascetic life devoted to service, study of the scriptures and to meditation.
• Antyeshti – The final sacrament, the funeral rites, are known as antyeshti Samskara.
  

The samskaras vary in ceremonial details from one community to other. All the sixteen rituals are hardly observed now-a-days except among highly conservative pockets of rural India. Here we came up with a solution for all our religious events needs to be taken care by an Pandits and Purohits.

"God dwells in human body" was the ancient belief. It became a befitting place (Brahmi) for Brahma – the supreme spirit only when sanctified by various samskaras, sacrifices, Vedic study and observation of vows, declared Manu, the Law-giver. Another law-writer Shankha commented "Refined by samskaras a person, who was able to cultivate the eight noble qualities viz., mercy, forbearance, freedom from envy, purity, calmness, right behavior and freedom from greed and coveting would rise up in the world of Brahman from where he has no fear of fall."

Atri's statement is famous. "By birth every one is a shudra, by samskars he becomes a Dvija (i.e., twice-born). By learning (studying Vedas), he becomes a Vipra and by realizing Brahman, he attains the status of a Brahmana" (Janmana jayate ....etc.)

Shabarand Kumarila summarized thus "Samskars are those rites which impart fitness and eligibility to perform certain actions.

In short, Upanayana, the eleventh samskar was a passport for education and openings. Vivaha (marriage), the fifteenth samskar was a door way to house-holder's duties and social obligations. According to Manu this stage was the most important one. A householder depended on all the other ashrams. Hence, wedding ceremony alone made an individual fully responsible to undertake social obligations.

All the samskars have lost their religious important nowadays and recitation of mantras are either mechanical or half-uttered. Samskars number two, three, four, six, ten, twelve, thirteen and fourteen have disappeared. Seventh or Annaprashan is important in Bengal and Eastern Regions and the eleventh has become optional! Even when performed, we are just ritualistic. Upanayana and marriage have become big socializing events of status where feasting and gifts have taken priority. But it is worthwhile to know the hidden precepts of samskaras to understand how our ancients determined an individual's behavior in society. To be disciplined, faithful and charitable were virtues which made a person good citizen.