Ten steps to Hindu home
Compared to our peers in traditionally Hindu countries, we, as Hindu-American parents, face unique challenges raising children with Dhārmika values. For example, while parents there benefit from public celebrations of Hindu festivals, here, we largely experience an environment without conspicuous Hindu observances. Likewise, while parents there have extended family networks that reinforce Hindu practices and traditions, here we live as nuclear families, often with a limited Hindu community. Given these circumstances, to ensure that our children are exposed to Hindu living, we should take affirmative measures to ensure a Hindu setting within our homes.
So, what can we do to establish a Hindu atmosphere for our children? Here are ten steps to creating a Hindu home—
Saṁskāra. Rites of passage. Hindu tradition has developed rituals for different stages of a person’s life. A newborn child might undergo the nāmakāraṇa saṁskāra or naming ceremony, and an infant the annaprāśaṇa saṁskāra for the first feeding of grain. As the child ages, other ceremonies, such as the vidyārambha saṁskāra, or the commencement of learning when the child starts school, continue to create a Hindu atmosphere in the home.
- Saṁskāra. Rites of passage. Hindu tradition has developed rituals for different stages of a person’s life. A newborn child might undergo the nāmakāraṇa saṁskāra or naming ceremony, and an infant the annaprāśaṇa saṁskāra for the first feeding of grain. As the child ages, other ceremonies, such as the vidyārambha saṁskāra, or the commencement of learning when the child starts school, continue to create a Hindu atmosphere in the home.
- Utsava. Festivals. The family should celebrate festivals based on the family’s traditions. The cross-cultural currents of Hindu-American society also provide an opportunity to participate in Hindu festivals that the family did not previously observe. Even if the family does not have a tradition of celebrating a particular festival, it can join in a friend’s observance.
- Pūjāsthāna. Altar. Each home should have some place — for example, a small kitchen or family room corner — designated for pūjā or dhyāna. Even if the family does not perform murti pūjā or otherwise have a family deity, it can light a dīyā at pūjāsthāna when observing various festivals.
- Kalā. Art. The home should expose children to traditional Hindu arts, including music, painting, and sculpture. Of course, all filmi music at the time does not expose the child to traditional Hindu music.
- Bhojana. Food. The family should try to eat a traditional meal together at dinner time.
- Śāstra. Books. The home should have traditional śāstra, such as the Rāmāyaṇa, the Bhagavad Gītā, and other books from the family’s tradition. Children have voracious appetites to learn and, if Hindu books are available, will read these without any structure. English-language and children’s editions are readily available for most śāstra.
- Ācāra. Customs. All families have specific observances that are part of daily living, promoting a Hindu home environment. For example, touching the feet of our elders, greeting with a namaskāram rather than a handshake, and not wearing shoes in the house are all examples of these customs.
- Satsaṅga. Fellowship. A child should know that there are other Hindu-American families and that what the child observes at home is not unusual. Having other Hindu friends will reinforce having a Hindu identity.
- Svāsthya. Health. A Hindu family should expose the child to traditional concepts of health and well-being. This includes not only practices, such as yogāsana or āyurveda, but also concepts, such as caturāśrama and puruṣārtha, which promote moderation.
- Tīrtha. Pilgrimage. The presence of a vibrant Hindu-American community for several decades has resulted in the construction of numerous mandira across the country. Whenever the family plans a vacation, a visit to the local mandira should be included.
Following these steps, a Hindu-American family can bring the Hindu experience home to their children daily. Instead of making Hindu practices and traditions a weekend affair, we should fill in the gaps and make daily Hindu living in all aspects a regular part of our lives.
AUTHOR
Amit Mishra
Member of the Board of Directors, Aum Education Society of America.
1 Comment
Very good post