Gayathri Initiation
- 11 Feb, 2006 at the Ashram, Bangalore
11 Feb '06, saw a rare occasion in the ashram where Swamiji himself
conducted the Gayathri mantra initiation ceremony for two children - Kusha H Sridhar
and Greeshma H Sridhar aged 12 and 10. As per the Hindu tradition, children
aged between 5 and 12 are initiated with the Gayathri mantra - the oldest method of
initiation given by the ancient Hindu Seers. The initiation is given to the child to kindle his
inner intelligence to flower and to remind him that he will live a chaste life until he enters into
marriage. The Gayathri mantra is a prayer to the Cosmic Intelligence for it to flower from within each one.
Following are some of the pictures taken during the
initiation ceremony.
Swamiji explains to the two children the significance and sequence of events of the
initiation ceremony.
Swamiji pays obeisance to Lord Ganesha - the remover of obstacles
and offers gratitude to the lineage of Enlightened Masters and great Seers who have given this technology of initiation to the
world.
Swamiji starts the initiation process...
Swamiji is seen placing the saffron cloth on the children. The
saffron cloth is what sannyasis use to receive the food given by others as charity
to them. Swamiji explained that the cloth signifies that one should lead a simple
and contented life and not a luxurious one.
Swamiji is seen giving the dharba grass
(sacred grass used as a mat while meditating) to the children as part of the
initiation. He explained that the grass is a reminder that one should lead a truthful
and pure life.
Swamiji gives a book published by the ashram to the children for them to read. He
explained that it symbolically meant that they should read the scriptures regularly to keep
in touch with sound spiritual ideologies.
Swamiji holds the sacred thread in a prayerful mood before placing it
on the children. He explained that the sacred thread is a reminder that the purpose of one's life is to seek and
realise the Ultimate Truth.
Swamiji offers the final offering of gratitude into the sacred fire.
Swamiji himself writes the Gayathri mantra on a paper to give it to the children. He
then made the children repeat the mantra after him a few times. He said that they should continue to recite
the mantra 21 times at home everyday.
Swamiji asks the children to receive the first offering in the saffron cloth from their mother.
The children take Swamiji's blessings after the initiation.
