In Kerala, children start their formal education after a ceremony called Vidyarambham. A child is not supposed to read or write before his/her Vidyarambham (ezhuthiniruthal). Vidyarambham is usually done when the child reaches age
three. If not, then it has to be at age five. At ages two and four, the ezhuthiniruthal
ceremony should not happen according to texts like ‘Muhurtha Padavi’. The first
letters are to be written on ‘onakkalari’(raw rice with bran). It is spread on
a large bronze plate. The plate should be cleaned to the point of sparkling
like gold. There will be a lamp with seven wicks (‘ezhuthiri vilakku’)
decorated with auspicious flowers like thumbappoo. On a banana leaf (‘thoosanila’)
we should keep a ‘niranazhi’(a measure of rice), lots of ‘unniyappam and ada’(tasty
snacks of Rice, jaggery, banana, ghee and sugar), ‘malaru’(puffed
rice), ‘Kadali’banana, tender coconut etc. This is called ‘Ganapathykkopp’. Ezhuthiniruthal
is to be done by an Aasaan (It is a colloquial term for Acharya or Guru- traditionally
we had ‘Ezhuthupallikkoodam’ or ‘Kalari’ also called ‘Aasaan Kalari’, which
served as primary school where an Aasaan or Aasaatti (female) used to impart education
to non-Brahmin children). Aasan Kalari does not function anymore, so the ceremony can be done by a learned person, a grandparent or parent. This has to be done with utmost respect, good thoughts and in a spiritual state. Guru sits on a folded white dhoti placed on the ground,
and the child sits on his/her lap. Then Guru guides the child’s index
finger on the rice in the plate to write ‘Hari Shree’, at the same time
pronouncing the letters. The child’s eyes follow the formation of the letter in
rice, grasping the image, at the same time listening to the sound of the letter
and repeating the same sound-mouthing it, while writing it and feeling it. According to Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yathi, this
process brings together and rouses the two Jnanendriya(Senses of knowledge- eyes
and ears) and the two Karmendriya (senses of activity- finger and mouth)- a
unique sensation to the child making him enter the infinite universe of
knowledge.
They write "Om Hari Shree Ganapathaye Nama: Avighnamasthu" (Om, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, we pray to you- let there be no interruption to our learning or actions).This is done in front of Lord Ganesha (the One who helps to overcome obstacles and is the epitome of knowledge, wisdom and kindness) and Goddess Saraswathy's idol, as She is the Goddess of all kinds of Learning and Arts. For Christians in Kerala also the ceremony is done with some modifications.
Vidyarambham is done on Vijayadasami day, which is the tenth and culminating day of the Navratri festival. On Mahanavami which is the ninth day of the Navratri festival, we keep all books and tools for Ayudha pooja in a temple or at home. (Ayudha Puja is an integral part of the Navratri festival (festival of triumph), a Hindu festival which is traditionally celebrated in India. It is also called "Astra Puja", the synonym for Ayudha Puja. In simple terms, it means “Worship of Implements”). We are not supposed to use any tools on Mahanavami. I used to love the day as a kid as I was never asked to study on the day :) And on the tenth day of the festival- Vijayadasami day- we get up early in the morning, bathe and go to the Devi (Goddess) temple and take back the books. Then we write all the alphabets and numbers and read our books and refresh ourselves for another year of learning and gathering knowledge The freshness and enthusiasm I used to feel as a student on that day is beyond words.
After writing the alphabets we also recite the Sanskrit prayer
Varade Kamarupini
Vidyarambam Karishyami
Siddhir Bhavatu Me Sada
The beautiful Malayalam song "Manassilunaroo Ushasandhyayay.." has a line which says 'we pray to you Goddess Saraswathy, come to us in the form of books and in the form of ayudha' (ayudha literally means weapons, or arms, but here it means any tool with which we work).
Our trio also had their Vidyarambham on Vijayadasami in October 2014. My father formally introduced them to the art of writing. After writing the prayer they gave Dakshina to my father. The whole ceremony has a certain elegance to it. Respect of knowledge, of elders, of teachers, of God.
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| 'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') of Raman |
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| 'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') of Kutty |
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| 'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') of Balu |
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| 'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') of triplets in Kerala |
Kutty loves to look at books. Whenever she goes out she makes us buy a book- small picture story books which she makes me read to her. Hopefully she will maintain her passion for books when she grows up.
Link to Rice-eating ceremony- 'Choroonu' or annaprashan http://www.tripletshouse.blogspot.in/2012/11/babys-first-solid-meal-choroonu.html
