The Learning Experience

When the mind of the child is ready to receive education, a function called the Aksharabyasam or Aksharambam is performed. The word Akshara means letters and Abyasam meanspractice. This function is the child's first introcuction to the world of reading and writing. This is believed to be a later development as compared to many other childhood functions. Sanskrit was initially a spoken language. At that time, the Upanayanam marked the begining of primary education. This education began with the memoriaing of sacred bymns without any reading or writing. What writing was known at the time was not used for educational purposes.

As life progressed, writing became more and more important. Literature developed and different fields of learning evolved. It became more and more necessary to learn the alphabet in order to preserve the vast treasure of knowledge. Study now entailed instruction in reading and writing too. Thus a new caremony was evolved to mark the beginning of this stage of education.

This function was traditionally performed around the age of five. There is a saying that the wise should begin the learning of alphabets before their second birth (or uapanayanam). Today however with the focus on ealy education, learning begins even before the age of three.

Traditionally, this function was performed in a grand manner. Saffron and other materials were scattered on a silver tray and the letters written with a gold stylus. As education came to be accepted more and more widely, the letters soon came to be written on paddy grains.

While in early times the letters written were a salutation to the gods, it soon came to be simplifies by many to just the primordial Om.

The child was taken to the gurukul or school in a procession. In the case of a gurukul the child was left there to serve the guru and commerce his education.

Today the caremony has been all but forgotten. When it is conducted, it is simplified and short. The child is made to sit on his father's lap. In some cases, the maternal uncle or a close relative or friend plays the rold. Guiding the child's forefinger, letters are written in the paddy grains spread on the floor. A small puja is done and the Gods are invoked to help the child complere his education without a hitch. Some important slokas are chanted. Among then is one to Hayagruva - the god of wisdom

(I promise myself before Hayagriva, the Deva who is the personification of Jnana(knowledge) and Happiness(Ananda), who is very pure, and who is the basis of all learning.) The other important sloka is one to Goddess Saraswati, the God of learning.

(I Prostrate my self before Saraswati, who fulfills every wish. Praying to her, I commerce my education. I pray to her, I commerce my education. I pray to her for its successful completion)

Two days are considered very auspicious for conducting this function. One is Vijayadasami. This is the tenth day of the Navarathri Puja. This is the day that Shakthi is believed to have triumphed over the evil demon Mahishasura. The word Vijaya means victory. As this day is symbolic of victory, it is considered a good day to start a new venture. The previous day, which is the ninth day of the puja is devoted to Goddess Saraswati. Pujas are done invoking her blessings on all learning.

The other day which is considered auspicious is the day of Akshaya Thrithyai. This day comes during the Tamil month of Chithrai which is between April 15 and May 15. Akshaya means growth or growing. Thus there is a belief that anything that commences on this day will prosper.

Education is an important aspect of a culture. Most religions acknowledge this and make special provisions for the commencement of education. The Muslims have a caremony that introduces the child to the Holy Koran. The Christians recognise the need for godparents to help with the child's religious education. In the world of today, where children are at school by the age of two and start lisping their alphabet even earlier, there seems a continuous process that begins almost as soon as the child is born. However understanding these caremonies transport us back to a time when life was not so frenetic; a time when the beginning of learning was looked on as a milestone and not as a frantic need; a time when children were still allowed to be children.