Om Namah Sivaya
Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya
Seemantham is an important samskara in the Hindu tradition. It is a spiritual ritual performed when the child is in the womb, usually between the 7th and 9th month. The ritual includes Vedic chanting and mantras so the child can absorb the sattvic vibration of the sounds while in the womb and thus affect the state of mind of the child through these positive vibrations.
On December 10, 2016, devotees held a small ceremony for Jyoti and Raghu and their unborn child who is due to arrive in January.
Above, the family prepares for the ritual . . . Saieesha (the unborn child’s sister), with mother Jyoti and father Raghu.
The necessary implements are procured and an altar is made. The ceremony is performed by Ganesh.
Devotees observe the ceremony and meditate to the mantras being recited.
garbha-rakṣā gayatri
oṃ garbha-rakṣāmbikāyai ca vidmahe maṅgala-devatāyai ca dhīmahi tanno devi pracodayāt
OM, to that Goddess who protects pregnancy we know and to that auspicious Goddess, may we direct our minds (meditate). May that Goddess inspire (impel) us.
garbha-rakṣā-stotraṃ
ehyāhi bhagavan brahman prajākarttā prajāpate
pragṛhṇīśva balim caimāṃ sāpatyaṃ rakṣa garbhiṇīm
O Lord Brahma, Who creates people, the lord of the people. Be pleased to accept this offering, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby, from all dangers.
aśvinī-devadevesau pragṛhṇīdaṃ baliṃ dvimāṃ
sāpatyaṃ garbhiṇīṃ caimāṃ rakṣatāṃ pūjayānaya
O Ashvini Devas (physician), the ones to be honored, be pleased to accept this offering, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby, from all dangers.
rudreśaikādaśa proktaḥ pragṛhṇantu baliṃ dvimāṃ
yuṣmākam prītaye vṛttam nityaṃ rakṣatu garbhiṇīm
O Rudras who are eleven, please accept this offering, to make us happy, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby daily.
āditya dvādaśa proktaḥ pragṛhṇītvaṃ baliṃ dvimāṃ
yuṣmākaṃ tejasām vṛddhya nityam rakṣatu garbhiṇīm
O Sun Gods who are twelve, please accept this offering, by increasing your luster, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby daily.
vināyaka gaṇādhyakṣa śiva-putra mahābala
pragṛhṇīśva baliṃ caimām sāpatyaṃ rakṣa garbhiṇīm
O Vinayaka, the Lord of gana-s, the son of Shiva, one with great strength, please accept this offering, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby from all dangers.
skanda ṣaṇmukha deveśa putraprītivivardhana
pragṛṇīśva baliṃ caimām sāpatyaṃ rakṣa garbhiṇīm
O Skanda, with six heads, the Lord of gods, who increases the love for our children, please accept this sacred offering, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby from all dangers.
prabhāsa prabhava-śyāma pratyūṣo marutonala
dhruvo dhara dhuraścaiva vasavo’ṣṭau prakīrttita
pragṛhṇītvaṃ baliṃ caimāṃ nityaṃ rakṣatu garbhiṇīm
O Prabhasa, Prabhava, Shyama, Pratyusha, Marutha, Anala, Dhruva, Dhara Dhura, who are praised as the eight Vasus, please accept this sacred offering, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby daily.
pitṛdevi pituśśreṣṭe bahuputri mahābale
bhūta śreṣṭe niśā-vāse nirvṛtte śaunaka priye
pragṛhṇīśva balim caimāṃ sāpatyaṃ rakṣa garbhiṇīm
O Goddess of forefathers, the excellent among forefathers, the one with great strength, the excellent among elements, the inward turned, the one dear to Shaunaka, please accept this sacred offering, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby from all dangers.
rakṣa rakṣa mahādeva bhaktānugraha kāraka
pakṣi-vāhana govinda sāpatyaṃ rakṣa garbhiṇīm
Please protect O great God, who blesses His devotees, O Govinda, who has bird as vehicle, please protect this pregnant woman along with her unborn baby.
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mṛtyuñjaya mantraḥ
oṃ tray̍ambakaṃ yajāmahe sug̱andhiṃ p̍uṣṭ̱i-vardh̍anam | u̱rv̱āṟukam̍iv̱a
bandhan̍ānmṛ̱tyormu̍kṣīy̱a m̍āmṛt̎āt ||
OM. The three-eyed one we worship, the fragrant one, who causes fullness; [detach us] like the musk melon from bondage, and liberate [us] from death. [May we] not [turn away] from immortality.
|| śrīmad-bhagavad-gītā ||
1 They speak of the eternal fig tree whose roots are above and branches below. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns. He who knows it knows the Vedas. Both below and above spread its branches flourishing because of the constituents; sense-objects are its shoots. Below in the world of men extend its roots that link up actions.
2 The form here is not known as such; it has no end and no beginning and no foundation. With strong weapon of detachment, having split the fig tree with well-nourished roots.
5 Devoid of egoism and delusion, overcoming the flaws of detachment, firm in spirituality, free from lusts, released from dualities called pleasure and pain, the undeluded (sages) repair to that imperishable status.
6 The sun does not illumine it; nor does the moon nor does the fire. That is My abode Supreme, after reaching which none falls back.
12 The luminous energy of the sun illuminating the entire world, the same that is in the moon and fire – know that radiance to be Mine.
15 I dwell in the heart of all; from Me spring memory, knowledge, and forgetfulness. By means of all the Vedas, I alone am to be known. I am the maker of Vedanta as well as the knower of Vedas.
19 He who, undeluded, knows Me thus as the Supreme Spirit is all-knowing; he adores Me, O Bharata prince! In all possible moods.
naivedyam
Offering food to God
oṃ bhūrbhuvasvaḥ
devasavita prasuva
satyaṃ tvartena pariṣañcāmi
amṛtopastaraṇamasi
oṃ prāṇāya svāḥ
oṃ apānāya svāḥ
oṃ vyānāya svāḥ
oṃ udānāya svāḥ
oṃ samānāya svāḥ
oṃ brahmaṇe svāḥ
śrī ramaṇaṛṣibhyo namaḥ nālikeraguḍagolakaṃ mahānaivedyaṃ nivedayāmi
madhye madhye amṛtapānīyaṃ samarpayāmi
amṛtāpidānamasi
nevidyānantaraṃ ācamanīyaṃ samarpayāmi
I offer balls of coconut and jaggery mixed together, the great naivedyam, to Sri Ramana Maharshi.
In between I offer sweet beverage. Post naivedyam I offer sips of water.
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Advait offers a bhajan for the ritual.
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Following the above recitations female relatives and friends place glass bangles on the wrists of the mother-to-be (the same number of bangles are applied to each wrist). It is believed that the movement and tinkling sound of the glass bangles is good for the fetus. Sandal and Kumkum are also placed on the mothers cheeks. Devotees sing while each female relative or friend applies these. Fruit is also offered to the mother.
The parents seek blessings from Nome.
The parents bless devotees and, in turn, are blessed by them.
The children enjoy birthday cake in the end!
Salutations to Sri Ramana Maharshi 