school of tradition
first letters written in rice
guided by His grace
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Image Source : Here |
Shared @ Haiku Heights (Prompt #59, Write, September’s Height of Haiku Challenge) and Sensational Haiku Wednesday (Prompt #114, School).
Vidyarambham, a Hindu tradition in origin, but one that is now followed across all castes and religions in India, is where children between two and three years old are formally initiated into the characters of the syllabary.
The ceremony of Vidyarambham (Vidya means “knowledge” , arambham means “beginning’) for the children is held on Vijayadashami (the last day of Navaratri) day. On that day thousands of people arrive at the temple to initiate learning to their children.
Initiation into the world of syllabary usually begins with the writing of the mantra “Om hari sri ganapataye namah”. Hari refers to the Lord, Sri to prosperity. Initially, the mantra is written on sand or in a tray of rice grains. Then, the master would write the mantra on the child’s tongue with gold. Writing on sand denotes practice. Writing on grains denotes the acquisition of knowledge, which leads to prosperity. Writing on the tongue with gold invokes the grace of the Goddess of Learning, by which one attains the wealth of true knowledge.
Β© Leo (31st August, 2011)
very beautifully penned leo.. and a superb pic…Someone is Special
Thank you for this haiku, Leo. It reminds me of a Jewish tradition: When a child is learning to read the Torah, a drop of honey is placed on the sacred words, and the child licks it to remind him that the words of God are sweet! Rice, honey, words: all good, all nourishing–as are the haiku from ten thousand poets. Oh, I am well fed!
Love the inclusion of traditionΒ – nice school haiku!
"school of Tradition" – I like that! Well done π Hey Leo, would you pass along to your friend G-Man that I can't post a comment on his site (nor can any non-Blogger user!)Β I left him a comment on my post but he may not return to see it. He's very tight on his contact setup! Thanks much! π
Something most of us have gone through…pity they never took pictures back then….lovely haiku on one the traditions I Still do like.
Wow ! love learning about how other cultures do things.
love this, I worked as an educational assistant for awhile and used this method with some younger students
I am so glad you gave us the history on this I read so many interesting pieces of work and never learn the background on it, Lovely work Vinay!
awesome :)…!!!
informative! liked it! mine is coming up…soon! π
Such very beautiful traditionsΒ elevating knowledge and writing to the level of the sacred!
excellent work!thanks for this informative post. i know a bit more ofΒ your culture today, and it's always good to know. π
What a great haiku and a wonderful explanation of what sounds like an inspiring tradition.I love the idea of writing on grain denoting the acquisition of knowledge and writing on the tongue invoking the grace of the Goddess of Learning.As a retired teacher this struck a chord.Thanks.
Did you start your three R's (Reading, Writing and Rhyming) this way? πΒ
Lovely one Leo…I didn't know of this tradition… π
What a fascinating exposition – thank you for the education you bring here.
Wonderful stuff Leo, wonderful stuff!
Vinay I think I feel in your spam I left a comment yesterday about how much I liked this and appreciated you explaining the tradition but I don't see it = ( I really did enjoy the info so many people post things without the info and it leaves me wanting…..
Leo – thank you for a beautifully written Haiku and the explanation that accompanies it! Divine, indeed! Appreciate you sharing!
Thank you too, Becca. It is a wonderful tradition I think..! π
Er, yes.. It had gone to spam, Amanda. Even this one too. I'd not logged in to Disqus dashboard yet. So didnt notice. Thanks for liking the haiku π
Thanks, Joe! π
Thank you for reading, Viv π
Good that you know now, Tweety π
With the tradition, yes π But don't you think Writing starts with a W than an R, Nanka? π
Yes, it is a beautiful tradition I feel too, Mike. Thanks for liking the haiku. π
Yes, always good to know more of other cultures, Dsnake. Thanks! π
They are very inspiring traditions. Absolutely, Gemma! π Thank you.
Thank you, Amity π
Thank you, Yamini π
I am glad to have shared, Amanda. Thank you π
Interesting and pleased to know a part of our culture is being spread abroad too, Christine. Thanks! π
Thank you, FlooringGoddess!
Thanks, Rekha π Glad you liked it. It is one I remember clearly too.
Thank you, Jenn. And sure, will pass on the message to G-man π
Thanks, Eric π
Wow. That's an interesting and beautiful tradition too, MMT. Thank you, and I'm glad you liked the haiku.
Thank you, SiS π
There is a great old saying Leo which says learning the 3R's and that is Reading, writing (pronounced with R) and Rithmetic!! So it is not a mistake!! π
Wonderful haiku and photo, Leo!Β I enjoyed your process notes about the tradition behind the poem too.Β It's always interesting to see how other cultures live, and especially how they initiate their children into the larger society.
A background was quite necessary, Traci. It is an unknown one to many of course. I'm glad you enjoyed all three, photo haiku and background. Thank you.
Yes.. wonderful to start ur eduction on something like Rice.. Our ancestors are too brilliant.. they indirectly say that it is all for food.. π
Yes, I guess so, KP B-) they had their ways π