Shasti-Abtha-poorthi
Shasti-Abtha-poorthi – The Tradition & Significance
The term Shasti in numerology denotes sixty (60). In an individual’s life, the completion of sixty years is referred to as Shastipoorthi. This term is derived from Sanskrit.Which means Shasti Sixty; abda completion. The sixtieth year in everyone’s life is a significant milestone. A memorable turning point. A touching reminder of the rich, mellowed life that would unfold in the years to come.
The sages and the Rishis of lore have acknowledged the sanctity of the sixtieth year in one’s life and have drawn out elaborate rituals to mark this special event. They looked at it as rebirth and suggested the repetition of those rituals performed at one’s birth.
Hence this celebration at this point of life is a sacred part of the hallowed Vedic culture. The rituals in the former go by the norms prescribed in the shastras, while the latter is purely conventional in nature.
60th birth day (ugraratha Shanthy)
The rituals carved out as part of Shanti are also referred to as Ugraradha Shanti.
Ugraradha is nothing but the harsh natured time. In a hundred-year time scale of man’s life, pre-sixty is a period of materialistic pursuit while the post sixty span is slated for spiritual endeavor.
The Ugraradha Shanti is a prayer sent to the heavens to make the post sixty span a spiritually fulfilling experience. Three different ways are chiseled to carry out the Shanti aspect. They are
1. Shounakoktam
2. Bodhaayanoktam
3. Shaivaagamoktam
The basic elements of these three ways remain the same, though the contents vary marginally. Of all, Shaivaagamokta Santi is very elaborate and ritual laden. Given its exhaustive scope of rituals, only a limited few like the kings and the emperors can follow it in Toto, though it is not entirely ruled out for devout householders.
Janmatah Shastime Varshe is the Shaunakokthi.
Going by this, Shanti has to be performed in the Sixtieth year and we have the following quote to substantiate it.
Janmaabde, Janmamaasecha Swajanmadivase tathaa
Janmarshe chaiva kartavyaa shanti rugrarathaahvayaa
Devaalaye nadeeteere swagruhe vaa shubhasthale
The Shanti should be performed in the same year, month and on the same day of the birth according to the Indian Zodiac.This is considered to be the best option. In case it is not possible to time it exactly on the same day, allowance is given to perform it on a convenient day during and before the completion of sixtieth year. The choice of the place to carry out this programmed could be a pilgrim town, a temple, a river bank or even a householder’s residence.
Mrityinjayadevata Kalasa sthapana, pratima sthapana and archana form a very important part of the programme. Similarly the deities of ganapathi Durga and vishnu are to be worshipped.This consitutes Paratpara Puja.
The seas, the rivers, the presiding deities of the Directions (Dikpalakas), navagrahas are involved into the Holy Kalasas and the respective gods are worshipped. Through this worhsip is offered to God who presides over every element in nature.
Similarly all the gods who govern each year of the Telugu Calendar (60 years) each Ayana (Uttara, Dakshina), each season, (six rithis) each month (12 months), each fortnight, (Shukla and Krishna) each tithi (15) each day of the week (seven) each star (27 stars). Each, yoga, each karana and each raasi are duly worshipped.
Through it, a humble prayer is sent to the mighty god who weaves every moment in the vast tapestry of time.
The almighty who is omnipresent in the celestial universe ranging from Dwadasa Adityas, Ekadasa Rudraas, Dasha Dishaas, Astavasus, Sapta Vayus, to Pancha brahmas are soulfully worshipped. The powerful presence of the paramaatma who lords over the whole universe is fervently acknowledged in this method.
All these deities who preside over every speak of the universe are to be duly worshipped by means of Kalasha Aaraadhana, Pratima Puja, Japa Tapas etc. All this is to be culminated by Homa.
Acharyas and ritviks take the sanctified water and perform Abhisheka to the householder. Here, the householder fulfils his social obligation of offering warm thanks to each and every particle in the universe, which contributed to his sixty year successful span on this earth. As a humble token of gratitude, he participates in alms giving much to the satisfaction of everyone in the society.
The Acharyas and ritviks who conducted the Shanti Yagna should be given “Dasha Daanaas” “Navagraha daanaas”, “Godaana”, to mention a few of all the “daanaas”, Annadaana ranks supreme and the host should take care that people belonging to all walks of life are properly and sumptuously fed.
Here the accent is laid on feeding the poor and the destitute, thus infusing the whole programme with social and democratic temper.
The householder is said to relieved of his social, secular, spiritual obligations when he successfully participates in this Shanti programme. He is thus blessed with a long and blissful life. Thus the Shanti aspects, which run through the “Shastipoorthi” celebrations provide a fusion of spiritual and social obligations which are the very bed rock the Indian culture.
Source:
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From Wikipedia.org
“Vivaha Shastyabdi” is celebrated on completion of 60 years of married life by the living couple. Having devoted to the service of God, built and retained the family ties with a bond of constant relationships, this is a best time to celebrate at this phase of life. This is considered more ideal to set an example to their own family and society. This celebration is usually organized by the couple’s children, younger siblings and grand children. In addition to various poojas, part of the wedding ceremony is re-enacted. The couple that is celebrating Vivaha Shastyabdi are given blessings from elders who have themselves already celebrated such events. The best belief is that Vivaha Shastyabdi couple blesses all those participating / witnessing persons that too the younger than the Vivaha Shastyabdi couple.
If it is a very simple ceremony, “ayush homam” minimum is a must. The other homams that can be included are, Navagraha homam ( praying to all planets for the well-being), Dhanvanthri homam ( praying for good health) and Mrithyunjaya homam ( praying for longevity).
The next higher step is to have Rudra Ekadashi if you are followers of Shiva. The sanctified water is done abhishekam for the couple, followed generally by a “Dhampadi pujai”. This needs Purohits who are well qualified to chant Rudram & Chamakam.
Over & above, poor-feeding, making donations for worthy causes, creating endowments can all be done – these are more social than religious. Pls contact ur pandit for more religious formalities.
Now-a-days, its becoming a custom to celebrate 60th. birthday at Thirukkadaiyoor because the presiding deity there is Amritha Ghateswara ( nectar lingam) who protected Markandeya from Death. SRI AMIRTHAKADESWARAR TEMPLE,THIRUKADAIYUR
SRI AMIRTHAKADESWARAR TEMPLE,THIRUKADAIYUR located in Thirukadiyur,near MAYAVARAM in Tamilnadu,India. 20kms from Mayiladuthurai, on the chidambaram- Nagappatinam East Coast Road. This temple is for the Lord & his Consort Tirukkadaiyur The Amritaghateswarar – Abirami Temple of Tirukkadaiyur is associated with the legends of Markandeya & Abirami patter. When devas, Asuras churned parkadal to get Amirtham,they forgot to Worship Lord Ganesa, Lord Ganesa stole the pot of Amirtham & kept at Thirukadiyur, it’s believed that the Sivalingam in this temple is made of Amirtha Kudam . As the pot of Amirtham was hidden here,the lord Ganesa is called “Kailavarna pilliyar”. Markandeya,son of sage Mrikandu was predicted to live for only 16 years. Hence Markandeya worshipped Amritaghateswarar bringing the water from Ganges through an underground passage to the temple. On the D-day,Yama appeared with his noose,kala paasa. Markandeya sought refuge in the Lord and embraced the Siva Lingam. The Lord warned Yama not to touch Markandeya as he was under his protection. Yama did not listen & threw the noose that bound Markandeya,the Lingam together. Angered by this act of rashness,the Lord kicked him with the left leg and held him under his left foot,making him inactive. Markandeya was blessed with Ever 16 .
TIRUKKADAIYUR TEMPLE : AUSPICIOUS TIMES The worship services are offered six times a day in the temple. Almost every day dawns with one celebration or other, as hundreds of pilgrims throng the temple to celebrate their 60th or 80th birthdays. celebration of 60th and 80th birth days (birth star) called as Sashti Aptha poorthi and Sathabishekam respectively is held very auspicious by the people as their longevity will increase. The annual ‘Brahmotsavam’ is celebrated in the month of Chithirai (April-May) the ‘Shankhabishekam’ celebrated in the month of Kartikai (November-December) is also of great importance here. Few other festivals being celebrated over here include Navaratri and ‘Aadi Pooram’ .
POOJAS TO BE PERFORMED FOR It is believed that Lord Siva dimnished Kalan (Yaman) in Thirukadiyur. So Lord Siva in Thirukadiyur is called Mritunga jaya murthi . Devotees completing 59 years and starting sixty have to perform Ukira ratha Santhi – completing sixty years and starting sixties have to perform Sashtiyapatha purthi . Completing sixty-nine years and starting seventy have to perform Beema ratha santhi. Starting eighty has to perform Sathabishekham and Ayusha homam. According to astrology devotees can perform Mrutinji jaya homam.
