Vidyāraṃbhaṃ

Vidyarambham (Sanskrit: विद्यारम्भम्) is a Hindu tradition, which introduces young children into the world of knowledge, letters, and the process of learning. This ceremony can be performed for a child between the age of 2-5years. This ritual is usually conducted on the last day of Navratri, i.e. on Vijayadashami day mainly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and coastal Karnataka, where children are formally introduced to learning of music, dance, languages and other folk arts. Vidyarambham can also be performed at home on an auspicious time(Muhurta ) following the rituals. It involves a ceremony of initiation into the characters of the syllabary.[1] In Tamil Nadu they call it as Mudhal Ezhathu. In Odisha it is known as Khadi Chuan (Odia: ଖଡ଼ିଛୁଆଁ) and is mainly celebrated on Ganesh Chaturthi and Vasant Panchami.[2]

For the Malayalam film, see Vidhyarambham.
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Hinduism

The Vijayadashami day is the tenth and final day of the Navratri celebrations, and is considered auspicious for beginning learning in any field. The process of learning and initiation on this day is also closely related to the Ayudha Puja ritual. It is usually on Vijayadashami that the implements kept for puja are taken up again for re-use. This is also considered a day when the Goddess of learning, Saraswati, and teachers (gurus) must be revered by giving Gurudakshina. This usually consists of a betel leaf, Areca nut, along with a small token of money and a new piece of clothing - a dhoti or saree.[3]

The ceremony of Vidyarambham (Vidya means "knowledge", arambham means "beginning") for children is held in temples and in houses. It is common practise for thousands of people to visit temples to initiate their children into learning.

Initiation into the world of syllabary usually begins with the writing of the mantra[4]Mantra

("Om hari sri ganapataye namah, Avikhnamasthu, Sree Guruve Namah, Sree Saraswathi Sahayam")

which means

"Salutations to Hari (Lord Vishnu), Shree (the Goddess of prosperity), and Lord Ganapathy"

Initially, the mantra is written on sand or in a tray of rice grains by the child, under the supervision of a master who conducts the ceremony (usually a priest or a guru). Then, the master writes the mantra on the child's tongue with gold.[5] 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. The ritual also involves an invocation to Lord Ganapathy for an auspicious start to the learning process.

See also

References
  1. "Thiruvananthapuram gears up for Vidyarambham day". The Hindu. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  2. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/toddlers-make-a-beginning-with-divine-blessings/article344195.ece
  3. "Navratri rituals: Golu, Saraswati puja, Vidyarambham... : 4". The Deccan Chronicle. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  4. "Vidyarambham - Hundreds of children write first letter". The Hindu. Kochi, India. 7 October 2011.
  5. "Vidyarambham - Navrathri festivities". The Hindu. Thrissur, India. 23 October 2012.
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