Facets of the Yajneopavit Sanskar
|
|
|
| When we turn the pages of the Vedas, we come across the sacred Shabda--VedaMata Gayatri, in all the four Vedas, viz. Rigveda,Yajurveda,Samveda and Atharveda. .JPG)
Because of the importance of AUM/ OM, prefixed and suffixed with the Gayatri Mantra, it becomes a Kavacham for the person, who gets initiated into the Gayatri Mantra. it is known as the Mekhala in Kashmiri tradition. Though Mekhala means a belt, a girdle, and is of Kusha' darbha grass at the time of the Yagneopavit ceremony, but it takes the form of 'Aitya pan' in Kashmiri tradition, after the fitst Sandhya by the initiated boy at the sacred river--say Vitasta in Kashmir. It symbolises purity, celibacy austerity, discipline and scriptural studies. Aitya Pan is also a Dori of the cotton, which helps the initiated to put up the Snaan Pat/Shraan Pat/underwear in the proper manner. Rishis are of course, the Mantra drishtas/seers,who see the reality through meditation,Yoga, japam and Sadhana. Their mind is known as the Aarsha-Manah--the intuitive faculty of the Rishi, where the Rishi is in his /her supramental consciousness, to see the Absolute reality, who is Nirakara, but adored as Saakara through Bhakti. That is why, the Rishi has seen the Gayatri Devi, in the form of the Divine Mother--Veda Mata/the mother source of all the four Vedas. Dhyana Shloka of the Gayatri Mata runs as: Muktha vidhruma hema neela davalachayair I adore that Divine Mither Gayatri who has five faces of the color of pearl, coral, gold , blue and white, and has got three eyes, on her five face. She has a crown adorned with the crescent of the moon, She is of the true self of Varnaatmika--the sound structure of the Immutable words, which suggest the Tattvas--thatness of the universal consciousness. She has the Varda an axe, white skull, musical string/ a rope, holy wheel, conch and two lotuses in her ten hands. This is the SaakaraMudra and Vigraha of the Divine Mother Gayatri,who verily, represents the Five Tattvas--
The moon crescent on her head symbolizes the waxing and waning of the moon, representing the Shukla and krishna Pakshas/fortnight, associated with the lunar Tithis/dates. The five colors represent austerity, a symbol like white pearls, strength of coral, purity of gold, eternity of blue sky, truthfulness of white color. The fifteen eyes represent the Panchadashakshari Mantra, which is not different from the Gayatri Mantra, The diamonds adorning her is her majestic look, and is the presiding deity of the Varna--the immutable phoneme. Om bhur Bhuvah svah तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्यधीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् This gayatri Mantra is a prayer for improving the one pointed concentration and evolving intellect in the three realms of Bhu/mundane/physical, bhuvah related to the upper regions, which inclues the space and eternity and Svah--the unfathomable realms of the Absolute, which is Sat Chit Aananda. Maas Chai Phopha Chai is just a celebration. Maas Abeed is recommended so that Mausi is Maa Jaisi, and she wants to give Biksha at the first moment, because one's own mother would get tears because of her over attachment,as the boy is going to seek alms in the Gurukulam, hence evolved this Prathaa/tradition. This is only in the Kashmiri Pandit heritage.
|
|
*Dr. Chaman Lal Raina |
|
|
| Copyrights © 2007 Shehjar online and KashmirGroup.com. Any content, including but not limited to text, software, music, sound, photographs, video, graphics or other material contained may not be modified, copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, or distributed in any form or context without written permission. Terms & Conditions. The views expressed are solely the author's and not necessarily the views of Shehjar or its owners. Content and posts from such authors are provided "AS IS", with no warranties, and confer no rights. The material and information provided iare for general information only and should not, in any respect, be relied on as professional advice. Neither Shehjar.kashmirgroup.com nor kashmirgroup.com represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement, or other information displayed, uploaded, or distributed through the Service by any user, information provider or any other person or entity. You acknowledge that any reliance upon any such opinion, advice, statement, memorandum, or information shall be at your sole risk. |
Vyug--is Yoga, Mandalik in essence. This is the sacred geometry of the Rigveda, because Rigveda consists of the Ten Mandalas,hence Ten circles to be drawn around the main dot with four quadrants, nearthe Yagnya Mandapam, with ten different colors. The Mekhli Mahraza is asked to stand as a witness that he has taken the Shapath/vow to be celebate and respectful to the teacher, Gurukulam and his associated, while asking for the Biksha.