Aim

To begin to understand that the beginning and ending of each stage of life are special occasions. To begin to understand the significance of the Hindu child welcoming ceremony.

Preparation

Before the lesson obtain images of birth samskar.
Photocopy appropriate number of resource sheets.

Lesson

Begin by asking the children to reflect on the drawings they produced in the first two lessons. Have there been (or will there be) any ceremonies or rituals which mark the beginning or end to the different stages of life?

Possible answers could include baptisms, first days at school, parties. In the future, children might refer to driving tests, weddings, funerals etc.

Inform the children that within Hinduism, there are 16 such ceremonies (samskaras) which mark the different stages of life.

Can the children guess what they might be? Clue, the first three are carried out before a person is born.

In groups, children attempt to identify the remaining 13 samskaras.

Compare the children's attempts with the information on the resource sheet. Inform children that not all sixteen samskaras are performed by all Hindus. Likewise, not all Hindus recognize the same sixteen.

Although it has many regional variations, one samskar which is practised by all Hindus is that which marks the birth of a child.

Ask the children about their own births. Where and when were they born? Do they know any stories concerning their births?

Show images of the birth samskar, if available.

At birth, a Hindu baby is washed and then the sacred symbol OM is written on its tongue with a special pen dipped in honey.

What is the significance of the OM symbol? (Hindus use this sound to begin all prayers. They believe it to be the first sound ever uttered.) Why is honey used?

A birth samskar may also include the drawing up of the baby's horoscope. The horoscope is used throughout life to indicate when is the best time for important events to take place.

What are the children's opinions of horoscopes? Can the time and place of a person's birth have some influence on their journey of life?

Conclusion

Conclude by asking children to reflect on their ability to realize their Journeys Ahead.

Notes

Teachers should proceed with caution before discussing horoscopes. Although astrological plotting and planning is part of Hindu practice, many parents might object to the subject being discussed within school.