Birthday Ceremony in Hinduism and Rituals To Follow

Birthday Ceremony, also called as Janam Diwas Sanskar, is another important Sanskar in Hinduism. Just like Lord Rama and Lord Krishna’s birthdays are celebrated as Ram Navami and Janmashtami respectively, in the same manner a person’s birthday holds great significance in his/her life. The birthday is just another day in a person’s life but according to the Hindu Dharma Shastras, it is an important day, which is why each and every human being should celebrate their birthdays with rejoicement. Along with that, people of all age groups should offer prayers to God in order to get blessed with prosperity and happiness. In the modern century, the manner of celebrating birthdays have undergone many changes. With the help of this article, we will try to reveal the right ways of celebrating one’s birthday according to Hindu Sanatan Dharma. Let us have a look at the importance of celebrating birthdays and the correct ways to solemnize the ceremony.

Appropriate Age To Solemnize Birthday Ceremony

There is no particular age to solemnize this ceremony as birthdays are celebrated every year. According to the customs of Hindu religion, people of all age groups should commemorate Janamdiwas Sanskar each and every year. This ceremony should be organized in a special manner when the child completes one year.

Importance Of Birthday Ceremony

According to Hindu Dharma Shastras, a person’s birthday should be celebrated by organizing a special yagya because it cleanses one’s soul and purifies it in a specific manner. The importance of it further increases because of being born in a human life. If the time period is not favorable to solemnize this ceremony, then Deep Yagya or Deep Daan (lighting the lamps) should be done instead. This article also provides information about the Deep Daan ceremony and the procedures to commemorate it. A person’s birthday should be celebrated with great joy in the presence of his/her family members.

Important Things To Keep In Mind For One’s Birthday Ceremony

1. Wake up early in the morning.
2. Do not follow any non vegetarian diet
3. Refrain yourself from consuming any intoxicating substance on this day, such as alcohol or cigarettes.
4. Do not preserve any bad feeling for any fellow human being in your mind.
5. Do not hesitate to offer your reverence to the almighty.

Preparations For Your Birthday Ceremony

Observation Of Fast (Vratdharan)

The initial activity which marks the beginning of this ceremony is Vratdharan. It is believed that observing a fast on your birthday can help you achieve success in life. On this day only, a person should let go of the negative traits of his/her character and give a fresh start to life, which will help him/her in receiving the blessings of God.

Activity: After observing a fast on your birthday, you should take an oath to shed your demonic traits and adhere a positive perspective towards life. Grow the habit of sleeping and rising early, exercising regularly and leading a healthy life. The mantras given below should be chanted four times during this period.

Offering Prayers To Five Primary Elements Of Life (Panchtatava Puja)

Since the human body is composed of five primary elements, first of all prayers are offered to these five elements during birthday celebration ceremony.

1. Fire- Life cannot form on this planet without this element. The Sun is also an aspect of this element only. In the human body, touch and physical representation is considered the quality of Sun.
2. Earth- This element represents our physical form.
3. Air- This element determines the respiratory system of human beings.
4. Water- This element determines Rasa. It also determines the blood and other liquid predicaments of the human body.
5. Sky- The sky has no limit and it brings desires and excitement to its governing matters.

Activity:

• Before commencing the ritual, five different portions of rice are offered to the five elements (Panchatatva) respectively.
• These portions of rice are painted with different colours.
• Green colour is used for painting the portion meant for earth, blue for water, red for fire, yellow for air and white for the sky.
• While offering prayers to these five elements, first of all take different colored rice grains and flowers in your hand and chant the necessary mantras associated with them. The respective mantras of the five elements are given below.

पृथ्वी : “ॐ मही धौः पृथिवी च ना, इमं मिमिक्षताम। पिपृतां नो भरीमभिः।
ॐ पृथिव्यै नमः।
आहवाहयामि, स्थापयामि, पूजयामि, ध्यायामि।” (7.32)

Earth: “oṃ mahī dhauḥ pṛthivī ca nā, imaṃ mimikṣatāma। pipṛtāṃ no bharīmabhiḥ।

oṃ pṛthivyai namaḥ।

āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi।” (7.32)

वरुण : “ॐ तत्वा यामी ब्रह्मणा वन्दमानः, तदा शास्ते यजमानो हविर्भिः।
अहेडमानो वरुणेह बोध्युरुश, स मा ना आयुः प्रमोषीः।
ॐ वरुणाय नमः।
आहवाहयामि, स्थापयामि, पूजयामि, ध्यायामि।” (17. 49)

Water: “oṃ tatvā yāmī brahmaṇā vandamānaḥ, tadā śāste yajamāno havirbhiḥ।

aheḍamāno varuṇeha bodhyuruśa, sa mā nā āyuḥ pramoṣīḥ।

oṃ varuṇāya namaḥ।

āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi।” (17. 49)

अग्नि : “ॐ त्वं नो अग्नि वरुणस्य, विद्वान् देवस्य हेडो अवयासिसिष्ठाः यजिष्ठो वहितमः शोशुचानो, विश्वा द्वेषा सि प्रमुमुग्धयस्मत।
ॐ अग्नये नमः।
आहवाहयामि, स्थापयामि, पूजयामि, ध्यायामि” (29.3)

Fire:  “oṃ tvaṃ no agni varuṇasya, vidvān devasya heḍo avayāsisiṣṭhāḥ yajiṣṭho vahitamaḥ śośucāno, viśvā dveṣā si pramumugdhayasmata।

oṃ agnaye namaḥ।

āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi” (29.3)

वायु : “ॐ आ नो नियूदभिः शतिनीभिरध्वर, सहस्त्रीणिभिरूप याहि यज्ञं।
वायो आस्मिनतिसवने मादयस्व, यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः।
ॐ वायुवे नमः।
आहवाहयामि, स्थापयामि, पूजयामि, ध्यायामि” (27. 28)

Air:  “oṃ ā no niyūdabhiḥ śatinībhiradhvara, sahastrīṇibhirūpa yāhi yajñaṃ।

vāyo āsminatisavane mādayasva, yūyaṃ pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ।

oṃ vāyuve namaḥ।

āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi” (27. 28)

आकाश : “ॐ या वां कशा मधुमत्यआश्विना सुनृतावती।
तया यज्ञं मिमिक्षतमं।
उपयामगृहीतो स्याश्रीभ्यां, त्वैष ते योनिर्माध्वीभ्यां त्वा।
ॐ आकाशयः नमः।
आहवाहयामि, स्थापयामि, पूजयामि, ध्यायामि” (7. 1. 1.)

Sky: “oṃ yā vāṃ kaśā madhumatyaāśvinā sunṛtāvatī।

tayā yajñaṃ mimikṣatamaṃ।

upayāmagṛhīto syāśrībhyāṃ, tvaiṣa te yonirmādhvībhyāṃ tvā।

oṃ ākāśayaḥ namaḥ।

āhavāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi, dhyāyāmi” (7. 1. 1.)

Deep Daan

The second activity of birthday ceremony is Deep Daan ritual. This special ritual is organized to free a person’s mind from the darkness prevalent in it. The special purpose of this is to provide courage so that a person can face each and every challenge with determination. No matter how many challenges are encountered in the path of life, one should stay still and bright like a lamp in each and every situation.

Activity:

• Place diyas (lamps) sequentially in a beautiful plate. The number of diyas should be equal to the person’s age.
• A Diya (lamp), which is larger in size, should be kept in between which symbolizes the new age of the person who is celebrating his/her birthday.
• The Om Sawastik symbol should be painted on the diyas (lamps) before placing them in the plate.
• Chant mantras and start lighting the lamps in a sequence.

मंत्र : “ॐ अग्निज्योर्तिज्योर्तितिरग्नि स्वाहा। सूर्यो ज्योर्तिज्योर्ति सूर्यः स्वाहा।
अग्निवार्चो ज्योतिर्वर्चः स्वाहा।
सूर्योवर्चो ज्योतिर्वचर्चः स्वाहा।
ज्योति सूर्यः सूर्योः ज्योतिः स्वाहा। “ (-36.24)

Mantra: “oṃ agnijyortijyortitiragni svāhā। sūryo jyortijyorti sūryaḥ svāhā।

agnivārco jyotirvarcaḥ svāhā।

sūryovarco jyotirvacarcaḥ svāhā।

jyoti sūryaḥ sūryoḥ jyotiḥ svāhā। “ (-36.24)

Note: The peers present in the ceremony should keep chanting Mahamrityunjaya Mantra five times.

If virtues like simplicity and truthfulness are observed on the concerned day, these virtues will permanently find a place in one’s personality.

We hope that this article on birthday ceremony will prove to be beneficial for you.