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Maintain sanctity

Sir,

Invitation cards inviting relatives and friends to join marriage festivities have started pouring in. Some invitation cards indicate that the Yagnopavit ceremony shall also be celebrated. The way Yagnopavit has been mentioned speaks that the occasion has been relegated to the back seat.

It is really sad that ''Upanayana'' which is one of the most important Brahman Samaskaras also known by the names of ''Brahmopadesa'' or ''Sacred-thread-giving ceremony'' has been reduced to a mere formality; an occasion of get-together, a function celebrated just a day or two prior to the solemnizing of the wedding a time of testing the financial depth of the bride's parents on the anvil of the weight of the golden chain that they are supposed to offer to the bride groom on the occasion. I am afraid when I say this I may be accused of speaking a converth language.

Sacred-thread-giving-ceremony is a Sacrament of initiation by which the candidate is formally introduced into and empowerd to sacred education. The word ''Upanayana'' actually means'' leading the aspirant to'' the sacred wisdom of vedas or to the ''Acarya'' who imports this knowledge. The pupil begs the teacher for studentship and the teacher officially and publicly accepts him as his 'Sisya'. By this ritual the boy enters into Brahmacharya-Ashram, which is a period of studentship. It is pertinent to state here that the word ''Brahma'' originally means Veda or Vedic Mantra. One who is devoted to veda and studies it, is a Brahmacarin-''Brahma, Veda Tadadhyananiyamam Carti Iti Brahmachari'' (Celibacy is one of the important conditions of the study of Veda). The word ''Brahmacarin'' itself is used for a celibate man.. What I understand is that this Samaskara is the second birth through the 'Maha Gayatri Mantra'-- Tatsavitrvarenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Pracopayat'' (Let us meditate on the most excellent glory of God. May he stimulate our intellect).

Manu says : ''In the Vedic birth of the student, symbolised by wearing the girdle of Munja grass, Savitri is the mother and teacher is the father.'' (Manusmrti 111,170). But learning of the Sacred Books is the first and foremost aim of Sacred-Thread-Giving Ceremony. Apastamba Dhrama Shastra says : ''Upanayana is a Sacrament of a person desirous of learning'' (1.1) Besides this main goal, this ritual also aims at the observance of certain vows, purification of life, renouncing the comfortable life at home and accepting the disciplined, rigorous life-style at the Gurukula etc.

Manu, the greatest law- giver of Brahmic religion says that a Brahmin boy should be initiated to the study of vedas at the age of 8, Ksatriya boy at the age of eleven and Vaisya at the age of 12. (Manusmrti 11.36). Here it should not be taken to mean that Manu presumed intellectual superiority to Brahmins in laying down that Brahmin boy should be initiated to the study of Vedas at the age of 8 while others at an advanced age this. It was only because of the fact that a Brahmin boy had his teacher in his father so he could start his education at a younger age than his counterparts in other castes who had to look for the teacher.

In the Words of Mundaka Upanishad : ''Therefore to know that, let him, with sacrificial fuel in hand, approach a teacher who is learned in scriptures and who is established in Brahman. ''Apastamba Dharmasastra (1.1.11) -13 says : From darkness to darkness he goes, when an ignorant person initiates. Therefore let one desire an initiator, who comes from good family, who is learned and who is self-controlled.'' So the teacher should be learned in Scriptures and of a very high calibre.

Putting of special dress on the occasion is of great significance. When the Guru accepts the student the offers him Kaupina and says : ''In the way in which Brahspati put the garment of immortality on Indra, thus I put the garment on thee for the sake of long life, old age, strength and splendour.'' (Paraskara Grhyassutra 11.2.9) Deer skin symbolises deep spirituality and great scholarship. The investiture of the Sacred Thread called ''Upavita'' or ''Yagnopavita'' ia also of great significance. The tradition is that this thread should be spun by a virgin Brahmin girl and tied together by a pious Brahmin. There are three threads representing the three Gunas-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. The number Three should also remind the boy of his three duties- the duties to Risis, to ancestors and to gods.

The staff is the symbol of watchman. It is given to the boy to make him aware that he is now entrusted with a sacred duty of protecting the Sacred Scriptures. Staff is also the sign of a pilgrim with the initiation, that the student now launches a long pilgrimage in search of Wisdom, sanctity and finally external liberation.

Sacred-thread-giving Ceremony, therefore, should be reverted back to the Drivers seat owing to its sanctity.
Yours etc...
(Predhuman K Joseph Dhar)
Jammu-Tawi)

Shortage of fertilizers

Sir,

This has reference to the news item ''Nissar refutes report of fertilizer shortage'', published in the Daily Excelsior on 25.11.98. In the news the Agriculture Minister Mr Nissar Ahmed Khan has described far from the truth a report appearing in a section of press about shortage of fertiliser in Jammu Division. But it is a harsh reality that not even single grain of DAP is available at present, to the farmers of Jammu Division. In this connection farmers have demonstrated and blocked national highway at Jammu and Samba a few days back.

In Rabi season all most every year, there remains moisture stress, particularly in the un-irrigated areas. But this year due to heavy rains in the first fortnight of October, these was sufficient moisture available for the sowing of Rabi crops like wheat, mustard, gram etc. But the poor farmers could not get the timely supply of fertilizers. The prospects of sowing of early and mid season varieties of wheat was good this year in the entire province. Consequently, this would have increased the wheat yield in the state manifolds. But due to shortage of fertilizers particularly DAP, the sowing has been delayed. Even now when it is the time of sowing late season wheat, the fertilizers is not available to the farmers. The department keeping in view the availability of sufficient and timely moisture this year should have made the arrangements early. No doubt the facts, figures given by the Minister may be true and may be better than that of last year. But in the previous years most of farmers had to wait for the rains in addition to the fertilizers.

The yield of Rabi crops would have been definitely better this year, had the precious available moisture been utilised by sowing early crops. But the same could not be done due to non-availability of fertilizers. The responsibility of this yield loss lies entirely on the Government which has failed to evolve a workable policy for the poor farmers of the state with regard to supply of fertilizers.
Yours etc..
Tajinder Paul
Chowala Road,
R S Pura.

Concern for poor

Sir,

Recently I attended a human rights convention held in the Indian Capital. The great and learned personalities of the world raised their concern regarding human rights violations, and it is widely believed that this is the concern of every individual. The topics raised in the conference were of great interest. But to my opinion only the major concerns should not be discussed but importance should be given to the concern of poor people.

India being one of the largest populated country can hardly take care of its population.

To give alms to the beggers depends upon our moods. If any useless money is found in the pocket we will keep on his tiny hand in a belief that we may be blessed in the exchange, if the mood is not upto the mark than we shout at the poor creature without knowing the reason for his begging, but a person like me will be a step ahead in saying that the begging is forbidden, and would not like to help him out from the shameful life! They are the same creation of God as we are the only difference is that they are of education and good life.

They must have proved better than us if they too had been provided opportunity to progress and prosperity. Their is no equal distribution of opportunities. The opportunities come according to status, and without realizing the reality we people start giving our version which cannot be digested in the empty stomach we do expect miracles from the poor hands who once in two days get an opportunity to have some wastage of food, but when the God has created same why should not every one be given the right of living with dignity. Is it not the violation of human rights? When we see child begging for satisfying his hunger, can we draft any amendment through which these poor creatures will be given the right to living, education, self respect etc. etc.

In Kashmir I was sitting with one of my friends who happens to be the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP). It was the time of recruitment when I met him, since we were meeting after an year, so we sat and the recruitment business started going on, he did not wanted to be absent so that corruption cannot find its way in the recruitment.

There were only few posts of General duty constables, but the contenders were many. All the poor people were trying their best to reach the target, but their efforts were useless, I could make out from their faces that they were crying in their heart, they must not have been getting the proper food due to poverty, how do you expect them to be physically fit. The poor creature must be thinking while eating that, if I eat less my father can give something as bribe for securing the job. It is the hard reality of life. It was to my surprise when one of the contenders who was short by a step tried his entry in the qualified candidates, but the poor chap was mercilessly beaten by one of the officers, after seeing this my feelings cried a lot and I could not stop my self and it forced me to complain the officer for his ill behaviour. Is this not the violation of human rights? A citizen has every right to job, but is the responsibility of the concerned governments to safeguard the rights of its citizen. The fault of the youth was that he was trying to find a way for the survival of his family but unfortunately the youth was treated so badly that he was lying unconcious in the ground with the clear visible marks on stick on his body. This incidence forced me to leave the ground without the permission of my friend. I know he must be feeling bad for the instance, he too is a human lover.

Not only this, there are so many instances which make you think ''are we human creation or animals'' if not we then who will safe guard the rights of mankind. The need is to think over and again for such human rights violations. We are not only to discuss militancy and its related violations but to find a way for the human prosperity.

Yours etc....
T. S. Sodhi
Jammu