Birthday celebrations, also known as Janam Divas Sanskar, are another important rite in Hinduism. Just as the birthdays of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are celebrated as Rama Navami and Janmashtami respectively, the birthday of a person has great importance in his life. Birthday is just one more day in a person’s life, but according to Hindu scriptures, it is an important day, that’s why every human should celebrate his birthday with joy. In addition, people of all age groups should pray to God for blessings of prosperity and happiness. In the modern century, there have been many changes in the way of celebrating birthdays. With the help of this article, we will try to reveal the right ways to celebrate a birthday according to Hindu Sanatana Dharma. Let us take a look at the importance of celebrating birthdays and the right ways to make the ceremony a success.
Appropriate Age To Solemnize Birthday Ceremony
There is no special age to make this ceremony a success as birthday is celebrated every year. According to the customs of the Hindu religion, people of all age groups should memorialize Janmadivas Sanskar every year. This ceremony should be conducted in a special way when the child completes one year.
Importance Of Birthday Ceremony
According to Hinduism scriptures, a person’s birthday should be celebrated by organizing a special yajna as it purifies a person’s soul and purifies it in a specific way. Being born in human life, its importance increases further. If the period of time is not favorable to complete this period, then Deep Yajna or Deep Dan (lighting the lamp) should be done instead. This article also provides information about the Deep Dan ceremony and the procedures to celebrate it. A person’s birthday should be celebrated with great joy in the presence of his family members.
Important Things To Keep In Mind For One’s Birthday Ceremony
- Get up early in the morning.
- Do not follow any non-vegetarian food
- On this day, remove yourself from consuming any intoxicants, such as alcohol or cigarettes.
- Do not preserve any bad feelings in your mind for any partner.
- Do not hesitate to pay your respects to the Almighty.
Preparations For Your Birthday Ceremony
Observing fast (fasting)
The initial activity that marks the beginning of this ceremony is Vratadharan. It is believed that fasting on your birthday can help you achieve success in life. Only on this day, a person should let go of the negative traits of his character and give life a fresh start, which will help him in getting the blessings of God.
Activity: After observing the fast on your birthday, you should take an oath to relieve your demonic symptoms and follow a positive outlook for life. Develop a habit of sleeping and waking up early, exercising regularly and living a healthy life. During this, the following mantras should be chanted four times.
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Offering Prayers To Five Primary Elements Of Life (Panchtatava Puja)
Since the human body is made up of the five primary elements, these five elements are first prayed during the birthday celebrations.
Agni- Without this element life cannot be formed on this planet. Sun is also an aspect of this element. In the human body, touch and physical representation are considered to be the quality of the sun.
Earth – This element represents our physical form.
Air- This element determines the human respiratory system.
Water- This element determines the Ras. It also determines human body blood and other fluid predicates.
Akash – The sky has no boundaries and it brings desires and excitement to its governing affairs.
Activity:
Before starting the ritual, five different parts of rice are offered in five elements (Panchatatva) respectively.
These parts of rice are painted with different colors.
Green is used for parts made for the earth, blue for water, red for fire, yellow for air and white for sky.
While worshiping these five elements, first of all take different colored rice grains and flowers in your hand and chant the necessary mantras associated with them. The respective mantras of the five elements are given below.
Earth: “oṃ mahī dhauḥ pṛthivī ca nā, imaṃ mimikṣatāma। pipṛtāṃ no bharīmabhiḥ।
oṃ pṛthivyai namaḥ।
āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi।” (7.32)
Water: “oṃ tatvā yāmī brahmaṇā vandamānaḥ, tadā śāste yajamāno havirbhiḥ।
aheḍamāno varuṇeha bodhyuruśa, sa mā nā āyuḥ pramoṣīḥ।
oṃ varuṇāya namaḥ।
āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi।” (17. 49)
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Fire: “oṃ tvaṃ no agni varuṇasya, vidvān devasya heḍo avayāsisiṣṭhāḥ yajiṣṭho vahitamaḥ śośucāno, viśvā dveṣā si pramumugdhayasmata।
oṃ agnaye namaḥ।
āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi” (29.3)
Air: “oṃ ā no niyūdabhiḥ śatinībhiradhvara, sahastrīṇibhirūpa yāhi yajñaṃ।
vāyo āsminatisavane mādayasva, yūyaṃ pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ।
oṃ vāyuve namaḥ।
āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi” (27. 28)
Sky: “oṃ yā vāṃ kaśā madhumatyaāśvinā sunṛtāvatī।
tayā yajñaṃ mimikṣatamaṃ।
upayāmagṛhīto syāśrībhyāṃ, tvaiṣa te yonirmādhvībhyāṃ tvā।
oṃ ākāśayaḥ namaḥ।
āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi” (7. 1. 1.)
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Deep Daan
The second activity of the birthday celebration is the ritual of Deep Dan. This special ritual is conducted to free the mind of a person from the darkness prevailing in it. Its special purpose is to provide courage so that the person can face every challenge with determination. No matter how many challenges may come in the way of life, one must continue to shine like a lamp in every situation.
Activity:
- Place the diyas (lamps) sequentially in a beautiful plate. The number of lamps should be equal to the age of the person.
- A diya (lamp), which is large in size, should be placed in the middle which symbolizes the new era of the person who is celebrating his birthday.
- The Om Satvik symbol should be painted on the diyas (lamps) before placing them on the plate.
- Chant the mantras and start lighting the lamps in a sequence.
Mantra: “oṃ agnijyortijyortitiragni svāhā। sūryo jyortijyorti sūryaḥ svāhā।
agnivārco jyotirvarcaḥ svāhā।
sūryovarco jyotirvacarcaḥ svāhā।
jyoti sūryaḥ sūryoḥ jyotiḥ svāhā। “ (-36.24)
Note: The peers present in the ceremony should keep chanting Mahamrityunjaya Mantra five times.