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<strong>Namaskar</strong> • A Voice for Yoga in Asia<br />
Dristi Letting Go<br />
Some of the principal samskaras are: vivaha (marriage),<br />
garbhadhana (conception rites), simantonnayana<br />
(protection from evil influences), jata-karma (birth of child),<br />
nama-karana (name giving ceremony), anna-prasanna<br />
(feeding of the first grains to the child), cuda-karana (first<br />
haircut), vidyarambha (beginning of schooling), upanayana<br />
(spiritual initiation), and antyesti-kriya (funeral rites).<br />
What is the real purpose of these<br />
samskaras (purificatory rites)?<br />
Many mistakenly perform samskaras as an obligatory ritual,<br />
simply following a tradition that has been handed down for<br />
generations, without understanding its meaning or its goals.<br />
Still others use it as a means to obtain some material<br />
benefit, such as wealth, power or good fortune.<br />
According to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami<br />
Prabhupada, arguably the greatest exponent of the<br />
principles of Bhagavad Gita and Vedic Culture in modern<br />
times, “the true purpose of samskaras is to elevate one<br />
from ignorance to the platform of real knowledge - spiritual<br />
knowledge. By birth, everyone is without any knowledge.<br />
The performance of samskaras gradually brings a person<br />
who has no knowledge of spiritual life to the spiritual<br />
platform. As it is said, by the purificatory processes, one<br />
attains spiritual rebirth. That is essential. Human life is the<br />
opportunity for understanding what one is and what the aim<br />
of one’s life is. After all, we are part and parcel of the Divine.<br />
Somehow or other, we are now in this material existence. So<br />
the real aim of life is to return to the spiritual world, where<br />
there is no struggle for existence - only a blissful, joyful life.<br />
We want an unending blissful life, but it is not possible in this<br />
material world. That eternal happiness is in the spiritual<br />
world. So our aim should be to go there, and every human<br />
being should be given the opportunity to do so. That is called<br />
samskara, the process of purification”.<br />
How are they performed?<br />
Having established the importance and true aim of<br />
samskaras, the next question is: how can each of us observe<br />
these samskaras to attain the ultimate results? Generally,<br />
in this present age of Kali Yuga, the age of decadence and<br />
quarrel, few people are interested in observing any<br />
samskaras, as they are deemed too difficult. Some even<br />
call them regressive, due to a lack of understanding of the<br />
true value of samskaras. There is also a lack of qualified<br />
priests (brahmanas) who can correctly perform the<br />
purificatory rites. The Vedas clearly state the samskaras<br />
should be performed by persons who are qualified and well<br />
trained in this process.<br />
Some recommend practicing the eight-limbed Asthanga<br />
yoga path, comprising Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama,<br />
Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi, to attain the<br />
same results of observing samskaras. Certainly this is one<br />
method, but in reality, it is no less difficult to perform. To<br />
correctly practice all the progressive stages of Asthanga<br />
yoga up to Samadhi (enlightenment), requires many<br />
lifetimes, as demonstrated by the great rishis (sages) of<br />
ancient India. For those of us whose life expectancy is<br />
barely 80 years, and focusing one’s mind on a single task for<br />
any length of time is practically impossible, it will take many<br />
more lifetimes to attain the desired results.<br />
Therefore, for the population of this day and age, the Vedas<br />
recommend one simple samskara that gives the same<br />
benefit as observing all other samskaras separately: the<br />
process of Bhakti Yoga and hari-nama sankirtana, or reciting<br />
the Holy Names of God. Specifically, the recitation of the<br />
Maha Mantra is highly recommended:<br />
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare<br />
Hare Rama Hare Rama<br />
Rama Rama Hare Hare<br />
This mantra is not some mundane prose whimsically<br />
composed by a poet in modern times. It is an ancient<br />
Sanskrit sound vibration that has existed since time<br />
immemorial. Neither is this mantra an artificial imposition<br />
on the mind. Rather, the transcendental sound vibration<br />
produced by reciting the Maha Mantra washes away the<br />
impurities of unfavourable samskaras (impressions) in the<br />
mind and heart accumulated over many lifetimes, and<br />
creates auspicious impressions in the individual, gradually<br />
re-awakening the divine nature inherent within him/her.<br />
What’s more, it is well within the capacity of every individual<br />
to perform this samskara himself. Whether one recites<br />
alone softly (japa), or recites loudly together with a group of<br />
people (kirtan). If one recites the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra<br />
correctly and with the right attitude, under the guidance of a<br />
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