Its been a while and I apologize for that. Ash and I have been crazy-busy getting things together for the wee-man's arival: entertaining, painting, building things, visiting, and well... resting. No excuses. I need to keep this bad boy updated. My bad.
The seemantham & valaikuppa was on the 14th of February. Tremendous thanks to our families for all of their help and assistance. It could not have happened without so many people stepping forward. Mom, dad, mom2 (Lalitha), Ravi, Jeff, Sio, Sandhya, Swara - god, there's so many people to thank... so many. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
It was an absolutely wonderful ceremony and I can't believe the number of family and friends who were able to attend. And the generosity - oh my lord - the generosity. There is nothing this child needs that hasn't already been given. That said - I think its time to start his educational fund. ;)
Thanks to Nisha and Pierre, who took the time to snap a number of pics. If you would like to peruse the pictures, just click here.
For those new to this Hindu ceremony, here's a little background for ya:
Seemantham:
According to ancient scriptures, the soul enters the baby in the womb around the 20th week of pregnancy. Seemantham is a prayer for the arrival of a good soul into the womb of the mother, and for her and the child's health. From the day of formation in the mother's womb, a child grows in different steps, each within a stipulated time frame.
According to the Vedic scripts, the birth and death is a pre-planned one by the almighty and as pre-planned, the child grows in a way that is linked to many factors, which include genetically considered factors such as: features, intelligence, height, weight, etc.
Accordingly, though brain formation occurs much earlier, the memory cells are said to begin its activities after the completion of seven months of pregnancy. Then onwards, a child can record the sounds and vibrations from the surroundings and hears every spell around it. So as to format the brain in a fittest condition, they used to perform Vedic recitals of relics and verses named "Udhagasanthi" or "Uthakashanthi" Japam, a soft but powerful mantra recital for about 1 and half hours.
This specific function of Japam is to give a solid state of mind for the child to be born, a positive vibration from the recited Mantras that give enough strength to the child in the womb, and to create an atmosphere conducive to the earthly possessives on his/her birth. This also increases the mental strength of the would-be mother, encouraging her, through the supportive gathering members blessing the child and mother for a normal delivery.
Valaikappu (bangle ceremony):
It is believed that when the mother is kept happy and healthy, she will produce a happy and healthy child. In the fifth month of pregnancy, there is a social ceremony called Valaikappu (literally it means bangle or protection). The pregnant mother-to-be is be-decked in new clothes, her hands dyed with henna (a cooling agent), her hair strung with sweet smelling flowers (aromatherapy) and her arms are decorated with glass bangles.
Relatives and friends sing for her while the bangles are put on her arms. It is believed that the tinkling of glass bangles on the mothers arms is soothing (sound therapy) to the baby. The sounds of a stringed instrument (especially the veena) are considered very auspicious for the baby. Chants and hymns are very nourishing spiritually for the baby.
Pretty cool eh?
