The 4 Stages (Ashramas) of life
The Ashramas or stages of life are four, viz., Brahmacharya, the stage of student life; Grihastha, the stage of householder life; Vanaprastha, the stage of seclusion (forest-living); and Sannyasa, the stage of total renunciation. Each order of life has its own duties. In none of these stages must a man grasp at the special duties of the other three. At the present moment, it is difficult to maintain or observe the exact details of the ancient rules, as the conditions have changed very much. But, if we can have a clear idea of the fundamental duties of each, we shall still be able to shape the life through a regulated course of development and steady growth.
The student, after finishing his studies, enters the order of Grihastha, when he is ready to take up the duties and responsibilities of household life. Of all Ashramas, that of the householder is the highest as he verily supports the other three. As all the streams and rivers flow to rest in the ocean, even so all the Ashramas flow to rest in the householder. This household life is the field for developing various virtues such as mercy, love, generosity, patience, tolerance, purity, prudence, right judgment, etc. It is highly lamentable to note that the grandeur, solemnity and dignity of this stage of life is not fully realised these days.
Duties of a Householder
A householder has duties to do towards the society, his neighbours, country, friends, relations, wife, children and parents. He must serve religious or social institutions for some hours daily in a disinterested manner with the spirit of Karma Yoga. This will purify his heart and prepare the Antahkarana for the descent of divine light.
He must treat his neighbours as his own self. He should share what he has - material, mental and spiritual - with others.
He must give good education to his sons and daughters and treat his wife well as she is his partner in life and religious performances (Ardhangini). Parents are veritable gods on earth. Therefore he should serve them nicely, and carry out their behests to their entire satisfaction. He should perform Sraddha (annual rites to the departed souls) every year and offer Tarpana to his Pitrus or ancestors.
The 5 Slaughter Houses
पञ्च सूना गृहस्थस्य चुल्ली पेषण्युपस्करः ।
कण्डनी चोदकुम्भश्च बध्यते यास्तु वाहयन् ।।
- मनुस्मृति 3, 68
चुल्हा, घंटी, झाडू, मुसल और पानी का घडा - ये पाँच गृहस्थ के घर में हिंसा के स्थान है । इनका उपयोग करके गृहस्थ पाप से बँध जाता है ।
"There are 5 slaughter houses in the house of a householder. The hearth (stove), the grinding-stone, the broom, the pestle and mortar, the water vessel. He kills millions of small and invisible creatures daily, which bind him to inevitable sin. It is to expiate all these five sins that the “pancha mahA yagyAs” were prescribed daily for householders".
The 5 Great Sacrifices (Pancha Mahayagya)
पञ्च वा एता महा यज्ञाः --- देव यज्ञः पितृ यज्ञः भूत यज्ञः मनुष्य यज्ञो ब्रह्म यज्ञ इति
- तैत्तिरिय आरण्यक
“These are the five great sacrifices which are to be performed on a daily basis. They are deva yagya, pitru yagya, bhuta yagya, manushya yagya and brahma yagya”
- Taittiriya Aranyaka
The fire place, the water pot, the cutting, grinding and sweeping apparatuses are the five places where injury to life is committed, daily. The sins committed here are said to be washed away by the five Maha Yagyas which every Dwija (householder) ought to perform and which are intended to satisfy the Bhutas, the Rishis, the Men, the Gods and the Pitrus. The five great Yagyas (Pancha Maha Yagyas) are:
Deva Yagya: This consists of offering oblations unto Devatas or gods with recitation of Vedic Mantras;
Rishi Yagya: This consists of study of Vedas and teaching of Vedas to students and offering of oblations to Rishis;
Pitru Yagya: It consists of Tarpana or oblations to departed souls and Sraddha or annual religious rites performed for departed souls;
The Pitrus are forefathers who dwell in Pitru-loka. They possess clairvoyance and clairaudience. Recitation of Mantras exercises tremendous influence through their vibration. The Pitrus hear the sounds through the power of clairaudience and they are pleased. They bless those who offer the oblation. In Sraddha, the essence of food offerings is taken up by sun’s rays to Suryaloka and the departed souls are pleased with the offerings. Even in the West many persons perform Tarpana and Sraddha. They have scientifically investigated into the beneficial effects of such oblations. It is the imperative duty of all householders to perform Sraddha and Tarpana to please the Rishis and the Pitrus. It is only the deluded souls with perverted intellects who misconstrue things and neglect to perform the sacred ceremonies and consequently suffer.
Also read Pitru Yagya
The Pitrus are forefathers who dwell in Pitru-loka. They possess clairvoyance and clairaudience. Recitation of Mantras exercises tremendous influence through their vibration. The Pitrus hear the sounds through the power of clairaudience and they are pleased. They bless those who offer the oblation. In Sraddha, the essence of food offerings is taken up by sun’s rays to Suryaloka and the departed souls are pleased with the offerings. Even in the West many persons perform Tarpana and Sraddha. They have scientifically investigated into the beneficial effects of such oblations. It is the imperative duty of all householders to perform Sraddha and Tarpana to please the Rishis and the Pitrus. It is only the deluded souls with perverted intellects who misconstrue things and neglect to perform the sacred ceremonies and consequently suffer.
Also read Pitru Yagya
(All the above three together is Brahma Yagya)
Bhuta Yagya: This is distribution of food to cows, crows and animals. This develops cosmic love and an Advaitic feeling of oneness; and
Atithi Yagya: This consists of giving food to guests and honouring them.
Collated from: The Divine Life Society, susanskrit.org, vichaarsankalan.wordpress.com
No comments:
Post a Comment