WHAT ARE MAITHIL SAMSKARS

MAITHIL SAMSKARS

Introduction

In Hinduism, we celebrate milestones or pivotal events of life – samskaras – in a big way. In totality there are 16 of these samsakaras, beginning with the very start of conception and the last of which is the death ritual. These samskaras record a complete life of a human. However, performing these rituals may vary with each culture or may have regional differences. These truly beautiful concepts hold the various stages or milestones.
Hindus believe that every aspect of life is sacred, That is why each significant stage, from conception to cremation is celebrated as a reminder that life is a gift from God which should be duly respected and lived according to His wishes.

Purpose of Samskaras

(1) Cultural

The variety of rites and rituals related to the samskaras help in the formation and development of personality

In the Parashar Smruti, it is said, "Just as a picture is painted with various colors, so the character of a person is formed by undergoing various samskaras."

Thus, the Hindu sages realized the need of consciously guiding and molding the character of individuals, instead of letting them grow in a haphazard manner.

(2) Spiritual

Impurities associated with the material body are eradicated by performing samskaras

According to the Atri Smruti a man is born a Shudra; by performing the Upanayana Samskara he becomes a Dvija (twice-born); by acquiring the Vedic lore he becomes a Vipra (an inspired poet), and by realizing Brahman (God) he becomes a Brahmin

The samskaras are a form of spiritual endeavor (sadhana) - an external discipline for internal spiritual edification

The Isha Upanishad reveals that the final goal of the samskaras, by observing the rites and rituals is "to transcend the bondage of samsara and cross the ocean of death."
To this, we can add that after transcending the cycle of births and deaths, the atma attains Paramatma - the Lord Purushottam

Although the number of samskaras prescribed by various scriptures varies, we shall consider the sixteen that is a consensus among scholars:

LIST OF SANSKARS
Chhatihar

Things required are Purhar Patil, Deep, Earthen pot, Fan made of bamboo (beeain), Kajrauta, Shahi Kant, Knife, Chura, lava, paper, red ink.

Namkaran

A suitable name often determined by Rashi of the child is then given to the child

The mother, child and the person performing the pooja and rites wear new clothes

At times, the name is written on the lips of the child with durba stem dipped in madhu

Annaprashan

In the 6/8 month for male and 5/7/9 month for female child
On an auspicious day and time (Shubha Muhurta)
After performing puja, the child, in new clothes, is fed payas, sweets by an elderly lady

Mundan

In 1/3/5 year
The Chudakarana (Sanskrit: चूड़ाकरण, Cūḍākaraṇa) (literally, arrangement of the

Mundan In Maithil

hair tuft) or the Mundana (literally, tonsure), is the eighth of the sixteen Hindu saṃskāras (sacraments), in which a child receives his/her first haircut.
Auspicious day and time (see calendar)
The hair of the child is cut with scissors and are collected in the anchar of an elderly lady who sits behind the child
This is disposed off in the evening in the roots of bamboo tree or in a river
Durbakshat and chumaon are performed
Feast is held or sweets distributed among the guest....Read More...

Akshararambha

In 3rd or 5th year (generally on Mundan Day)
In the morning hour, (after Mundan Ceremony) the acharya performs puja of Panch Devata, Kul Devata, Ganesh, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Vishnu, Mahadeva and Brahma
On a whole banana leaf, placed over an alpana, 5 kg of rice is spread
Acharya takes the child in his lap and holding a chalk in the child's hand writes "OM NAMAH SHIDHDHAM" on rice
It is, then, covered with a yellow cloth
The rice is removed in the evening and used
Nowadays, Akshararambh is also performed on Basant Panchmi day