Why is ‘Sutaka’ observed when a boy or girl is born?
Why is ‘Sutaka’ observed when a boy or girl is born? What is the reason behind this? This is our discussion topic today. Sutaka comes under the sixteen basic Sanskaras in Hindu tradition. Now we have to understand this properly.
The relation with blood goes on over generations. This is a Darshanik (Philosophical) principle. According to ’Mudgal Upanishad’, ’Shanti Parva’ of ’Mahabharata ’ etc, among the six ’dhatus ’ of our body, the first three are inherited from the mother, while the other three are inherited from the father. In everyone’s body, there is the presence of both mother and father in the form of six dhatus. This has been revealed in the ’Shanti Parva’ of ’Mahabharata ’. The flow of blood goes on for seven generations. During the birth and death of a person, the relatives of the person surely get ‘ashuddhi’ (impurity). This has got a severe effect on the hair. Hence, there is a practice of shaving off the hair.
As per the southern version of ’Manusmriti’, during birth, ‘ashuddhi’ remain for one day. As per the northern version, ‘ashuddhi’ is for ten days. In the case of death, among the ’Brahmanas ’, ‘shuddhi’(purity) is gained after ten days. Among ’Kshatriyas ’, ‘shuddhi’ is gained after twelve days. In the case of ’Vaishyas’, ‘shuddhi’ is gained after fifteen days and among ’Shudras’, it is gained after a month. These also stand valid on scientific grounds. If one wants to know it properly serious studies are required to accept these facts. It is not brilliant to negate this without knowing this properly or perceive the matter with our gross sense organs and mind.
The relation, by the virtue of blood, goes on over generations. Even in the case of ’Gotra’, the effect remains for seven generations. The answer on the scientific ground is also needed reflection. On the blood and life, there is surely an effect of ’shuddhi-ashuddhi’ irrespective of whether you consider someone as your relative or not.
A youth called Deepak, from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, used to visit Bihari Ji’s shrine yearly when the ’charanakamala’ (lotus feet of the lord) was shown for ’Darshan’. Everyone, including the youth, used to take Darshan of Bihari Ji’s charanakamal. All the Pujaris (temple priests) knew him and would welcome him. He was a relative of Bishamchand Sheth. On one such occasion, he tried very hard, even went close to the deity, but failed to get the Darshan of Bihari Ji’s charana. He questioned the Pujari about the same. The Pujari replied saying: “This is quite strange. The Bhagwan’s feet are open for all”. All the others got the darshan of Bihari Ji’s feet, but why not you? We have kept those open for darshan and not hidden it.” The youth looked at his watch. He returned with disappointment.
In those days, there were no mobile phones. This was narrated by Deepak. He was staying at Bishamchand Ji’s place. He was later informed via land phone about an incident. When Deepak was at Bihari Ji’s shrine seeking darshan, one of his relatives had faced an accident and died in that. The news reached later, but the effect on the youth’s body was so profound that he, even with his eyes open, couldn’t get the darshan of BihariJji’s ‘charankamal’. This was due to the ’ashuddhi’ in his eyes.
Mahabharata speaks of an incident. A Guru asked ’dakshina’ (prescribed offering) to a Shishya (student). The Shishya went to the king and said to him that he would need the queen’s earrings. He told about his Guru’s instructions about the dakhina. Queen’s earrings are divine and Gurudev (teacher) has commanded him to bring them for his wife. The king happily agreed and said,” our doors are always open for Brahmanas. Please approach the queen. She will happily give away her earings to a ’Vatuka’, such as yourself.
The Shishya went to the queen’s place. Though the queen was seated there, he couldn’t see her. This is an incident from Mahabharata. He went back to the king and said, “have you played a trick on me? There is no queen in there.” The king replied, “Please don’t get offended. The queen is seated in the verandah. But, there is some ashuddhi in your body. Please try and recollect. There might be some other ashuddhi”. The Shishya recollected and roamed in his memory. In hurry, in the forest and he hadn’t followed procedures for the ’shuddhi’ related rules of cleaning one’s feet, etc to the required extent after he did urinate. The king asked him to wash his limbs properly and follow the rituals for purity. After doing so, Shishya approached the queen and could see her.
Kaliyuga was after King Nala for twelve years. He intended to enter into Raja Nala’s body and trouble him. On one day, Raja Nala didn’t clean his heels, etc to the required extent, after urinating. Owing only to this extent of ashuddhi, not due to any defect in the mind, only due to this amount of impurity in the body, Kaliyuga entered into Nala and made the latter go through many sufferings. Hence, the arrangement which we have regarding ’shuddhi’, ’ashuddhi’, ’sutaka’ etc has reasons.
Even in the case of honey bees, when their member dies due to some reason, on the 13th day, all of them observe mourning. Who taught ‘Manusmriti’ to them? They observe mourning on the 13th day. Thus, this is a ’Darshanik’ (philosophical) principle indeed.
Modern science is limited to our gross body and never reaches the dimension of mind and soul. These Vedic principles cover all the aspects of a living entity. It can only understand by persons who got patience and desire to observe the cause and effects. Currently, Corona Virus is not observed by sense organs but you can stay away with a proper wash of hands and sanitization. This a form of gross suddhi covering our gross body. Similarly, for mind which is called a subtle body, some purity is required. Similarly, for your desires you need purity in the casual body. It is all science as per the Vedas. We need to understand these properly from traditional education and should follow them for our benefit. Only negating with science will not help you to live a proper life.
Narayana !!!
