Under Hindu usual practices we have sixteen sacraments and with some little changes here and there the Mai-ism sacraments are finally decided to be principally eighteen as under
(1) GARBHADHAN:- With a view to procreating a meritorious, religious and fortunate child, this ceremony is performed on the day decided for the first co-habitation between husband and wife. It is performed always in the night.
(2) PUNSAVAN:- This sacred function is performed between 60 and 90 days of enceinte. The purpose is for begetting first a son,
GARBHAUSHADHA:- In due course on the proper occasion, suitable medicines are to be administered if necessary and if financial position permits. In this age of costly medical treatment, this idea as a sacrament has been entirely lost. The object in view is to secure the proper and healthy growth of the child in the womb, as also for safe and painless delivery. This is done before or after PUNSAVAN, as convenient.
(3) SEEMANTH:- This ceremonial function is performed either in the fourth, sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. The purpose is for the well-being of both the expectant mother and the expected child. In the modern ways of life, this function may generally be performed somewhere about the time when the expectant mother goes to the maternity home for delivery. After the completion of the fourth month, the elders, especially the mothers on both sides and the husband should make it a point of great concern to see that the child-carrying mother passes her maximum daily time in physical bodily repose and keeps her mind as much engaged in religious functions, reading of scriptures, Mai-worship, attendance, Pathanams of Mai names and mantra repetitions etc. It is the spiritual AUSHADAM medicine on the same lines as physical medicines referred to before. Hindu scriptures are full of proofs that the child takes up all the spiritual feeding that the mother partakes just as the nourishment food. This principle is accepted even by western science as there are proved cases where the children are born with the same complexion as the picture that the mother concentrated upon before the delivery. The moral, religious and spiritual impressions are much more powerful than the materialistic attempts and that which is true of complexion is many times much more true of the mental, emotional, religious and spiritual formation.
(4) JATA KARMA:- The actual moment of birth of the child should be most precisely recorded so that an accurate horoscope can be cast. Although the foretelling of life events is a matter of doubt even with many astrologers, the influence of various planets at the moment the child is exposed to on delivery and the multifarious influences of the planents form a scientifically proved truth especially regarding the character, tendency, help, mood, vocational expertness etc. That the planets exert most lasting and powerful influence can be very well inferred from the fact of full moon tides,
(5) NAMA-ABHIDHANA:- This is the ceremony of naming the newborn child. It is performed ten or twelve days after birth. Names should consist possibly of two or four syllables always with the prefix “Mai” e.g. ‘Mai-Das’, ‘Mai-Prasad’ etc. Since long the practice has already begun of requesting Maiji to select the name. Maiji requests parents to put in their proposal and then Maiji improves upon the name if necessary only very slightly and just in full agreement with the selected sense conveyed under the selected name, indicating the taste, ambition, life goal, desire etc. There is further a pet name for constant family use separately, of two syllables for girls and three for boys. Some such christened names have been “Mai-Charan”; “Mai-Premi”; “Mai-Anand”; “Mai-Sanat” etc.
There are other smaller functions and ceremonies undertaken during the period after naming, before the next one, as under:
(a) KHATWA-AROHANA:- This is the sacred ceremony of placing the child for the first time in the cradle or in the bed cot i. e. separate from the mother’s direct contractual embrace.
(b) KARNA VEDH:- This is the sacred ceremony of piercing holes in the ear lobes of the offspring after tenth, twelfth, or sixteenth or twenty-eighth day or even after the seventh or eighth month after birth. Piercing holes on the ear lobes is stated to be for ensuring development of grasping power of the child.
(6) ANNAPRASAN:- This is the sacred ceremony of feeding the child for the first time. This is to be performed in the sixth month. All the times and periods mentioned under sacraments are only very general and have to be as convenience and conditions make them suitable. The ceremony should be performed as far as possible in a Mai Temple. The first food should consist of honey, curd, ghee and rice. Naturally enough, all smaller details of feeding etc. will differ from community to community as per local customs and family practices.
(7) CHAULAM:- This ceremony is performed in the third year of the child. It consists of cutting the hair of the child for the first time. In past decades, this was a great occasion for families to go to their Kula Devies (family goddesses). It is now however extremely costly and inconvenient and this practice has been almost abandoned.
(8) ADHYAYANAM OR VIDHYARAMBHA:- This ceremony consists of initiation of the child into the alphabets. This should be preceded by Guru Pooja. The sacred mantra: ‘Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai, Vidhya Siddhi Pradayini Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai’ should be written on the child’s tongue on the night by Maiji or any Mai Shishu or any Mai-ist in descending order of merit with a silver stick. This ceremony has also been started in the case of several Mai-ists of Menon, Pillai, Nair etc. families.
(9) UPANAYANAM:- This is the sacred Thread Ceremony. Under Mai-ism, it should be performed both by sons and daughters. It is expected that by this time, the son or daughter has on the tip of his or her tongue almost as much of Mai mantras and Mai-Ardha-Sahasranama-Pathanams as possible in each case. The best method for this automatic commitment to memory is that the parents, whenever they come to Mai-Niwas, should bring with them their children to be impressed by the holy and peaceful atmosphere and the sound waves created by scriptural utterances. It is as if the children are being trained to develop their subconscious, inward, instinctive knowledge which would be extremely beneficial during their own hard and misery-stricken time.
Maiji is extremely happy about the future of Maiism in as much as he is overjoyed to find that even youngest children, especially in the case of Kerala devotees have shown the spiritual force of a much greater devotion, so often even greater than their parents. They insist strongly on being taken to Mai Niwas to attend Mai-worships and being taught and initiated into name repetitions and worship preliminaries in their own homes.
UPANISHKRAMANA:- This ceremony consists in taking out the child to Mai temple and then to all near relatives, family friends etc.
(10) ADHYAYANA POORNATVAM and AARTHIKA SAADHANA PRAVESHAM: Under this ceremony, Gurushishya relationship assumes great importance. This ceremony marks the completion of education, graduation and securing service or entering into business.
(11) VIVAHA LAGNAM:- This means the sacred ceremony of marriage. This would vary with different places and communities, which may be done in the usual customary or self decided manner. But as stated elsewhere, the first or the final function in addition has to be in the presence of Mai, either in any Mai Temple or before one’s family Mai. It is wished that as far as possible, the match for a husband or a wife be selected from the Mai-ists’ families. There have been instances of the said type, resulting in the unification of any two Mai-ist families. This is not out of any sectarian or narrow view, but for ensuring the happiest wedlock of the pair and the best progeny born with Mai-istic Sanskars and beliefs. It is the most repeated experience in the present fancies-following age of self-selection, persons of different cultures, civilizations and parental training, that young people do get infatuated of one another, but they have no idea about the greatest need of mutual compatibility and they often fall out. The other possible misfortune is that both of them, in the case of love marriage are cut away and isolated from the parents and respective communities on both sides. Parents also have no voice to render advice or interfere, in case any one of them becomes faithless or tyrannical to the other. Maiji has received so often pitiable complaints from aggrieved married parties especially in the cases of inter-caste, inter-communal or international marriages. Such ones have found greatest consolation and guidance and a religious sanctity under this Universal Religion of Mai. ism. Many of such marriages later after initiation into the universal religion have been fairly happy. In other cases of a hanging position in the matter of any decided community to which they belong, the family remains fairly happy (externally) so long as there is abundance of money, but their children’s lot on subsequent poverty is most pitiable as they have no sympathy from any community or any individual religions or religious persons. Maiji recommends that the non-Mai-ist party of a proposed marriage be insisted upon to take the Maiism Oath with a view to ensure oneness and unity, of environment and sympathy of families, societies and religious affinities.
The marriage ceremony according to “Mai-ism” is the simplest measure of both parties garlanding each other in the presence of the parents, relatives, friends and visitors, ending with the waving of light by the pair in common hand in hand, the wife being to the left of the husband. After marriage further recurring practice although optional is being conducted by Mai-ist pairs.
This shortly means and is described in Mai-istic literature with meanings as given here.
(A) It is the waving of the lights nine times, with repetition of “Sree Mata” to “Mandala” first waving by the female of the pair praying to Mai to give her a life-long happy companion.
(B) The same by the male of the pair praying for a suitable life-long happy companion.
(C) Both praying together hand in hand, the female being to the left.
(D) The wife worshipping the husband by waving the lamp in the same manner.
(E) The husband worshipping the wife in the same manner.
(F) Wife worshipping the husband in the same manner to complete the trio portion of the whole ceremony. Next three stages are the reversions of the first i, ii, iii.
(G) Both worshipping Mai together by way of greatest devotion and surrender to Mai for showering the grace of giving the life-long companion.
(H) Worshipping Mal by the husband for making his life worth living with a loving wife,
(I) Same Mal-worship by the wife for making her life worth living with a loving husband,
(J) MAI SAADHAARANA PRATICNYA:- This is the sacred ceremony of taking General Oath of Mai-ism on assuming household life.
(K) MAI DEEKSHA:- This is the advancement in religious studies, devotion, philosophy etc. under the Mai-ism Adherents’ Oath,
(L) VANAPRASHTA:- This marks the stage of retirement from employment, at about the age of 55 or 60 years, of leading household life and carrying out only light duties to children and grandchildren as prescribed under Mai-ism, We are passing through the money-hunger age. No amount of earning is considered enough. That is all right for youngsters, but old persons should establish or rather assert their right of taking rest and having leisure enough to set right the wrong mentalities created through the humdrum life necessary for maintaining the youthful life and turn one’s activities to making all necessary religious preparations for the next life. The future life or life existence after death is a matter of certainty as fully proved by spiritual experiences and innumerable instances of indisputable proofs of relations and communications, of persons that have died and are in astral bodies through their communications with our world. Hinduism especially believes in rebirth, which although is not asserted by other religions, is at least not disproved, and the usual tendency is towards trying to make out the truth of rebirth from several broken and half-expressed sentences in the scriptures of other religions. Mai-ism leaves it to everyone to have his own belief in rebirth or not, just as Mal-ism leaves everyone free even to believe in the existence of God or not. These beliefs are not indispensable under Mai-ism.
(15) MAI-CHARAN NIVARTAN:- Return to Mother’s Lotus feet i. e. finally leaving this physical body under the phenomenon of the ‘deep sleep’ known as Death.
(16) VARSHIK ATMA KALYAN VIDHI:- This consists of after-death ceremonies for one year till the death anniversary, including from the day of dying, monthly feedings and charities etc.
(17) VARSHIK SHRAADDHA:- This is the annual day ceremony for the departed soul after the first year.
(18) ICHCHHA TRIPTI:- This means carrying out all small and large wishes of the parents, expressed by them during their lifetime that were not fulfilled but which can be possibly fulfilled; and of occasional praying for the happy forward progress of the souls of the parents in the other world through concentrated prayers and charities, of feeding, clothing, meeting inevitable needs of the poor etc., This obligation has been greatly stressed in Hinduism under the name of “Matru-Pitru Runa” (Parental debt).
It must be noted that for each of the Mai-ism Sacraments, at the commencement and also at the conclusion of the ceremonial function, Mai should be worshipped with intense devotion and earnest endeavour should be made to invoke Her Grace for the proper and fruitful fulfilment of the sacraments, along with the detailed intimation to Maiji at the commencement and end for Mai’s and Maiji’s blessings.
Further it may be noted that under Mai-ism there are four ceremonies in each of the quadrilateral units. The last one is given quite a special importance as it is a dead certainty although it is left to everyone to believe or not. It is that there is the other life after death and the Shraaddha ceremonies etc, do help the departed soul to be consoled or satisfied with the things as they are after them and thus the Shraaddha ceremonies even impart a great true and joyful heart feeling to the departed soul. This is so much important that there are cases of several most orthodox persons taking even the remotest chance in case life after death may perhaps be possible, perform these ceremonies during their own life time with all charities, donations etc.
In this connection, it is most regrettable to note especially about the modern and rich sons, that they are ready to pounce upon property worth millions which they don’t consider in any way polluted or infected with plague germs, but regarding after-ceremonies if there are any proposals of dinners, donations or sacred scripture readings in midst of the relations under bereavement, they at once shatter all such proposals with their own commands in one sentence viz. “We don’t believe in any such humbug.” This is most regretfully true even when such expenses don’t represent even the most trifling percentage of what their parents have left for them. They would most slavishly submit themselves to the income-tax and other expenses for the luxuries of themselves and their families but they would not part with the smallest aforesaid amount for the satisfaction of the parents, sisters, brothers and relations. They don’t take even the remotest chance into consideration about the likelihood of life continuing after death.
Anyway, it is specially recommended that in view of the present costliness and poverty and atheistic tendencies of the world, it is desirable that provisions should be made by oneself during one’s life-time, entrusting, if necessary, the performance of the ceremonies to a friend or Mai-ist or particularly trustworthy sons, relatives etc. One speciality of Mai-ism is that under Mai-ism, man and woman are under the spiritual co-equal status and therefore daughter and mother are to be treated in the same manner as father and son for sacred thread or birthday ceremonies etc.
It is interesting to note the analogous features in different religions, and if there were leisure and patience to study details it can be shown that every religion has almost similar sacraments. The underlying idea is to seek God’s Grace on every important occasion in life. There are certain common things to all human beings. A child is born and the parents with joy invoke God’s blessings. That child has some name and belongs to a particular religion. Thus we may take Baptism similar to naming; and confirmation to Upanayanan or the sacred thread ceremony. Marriage is quite clear. Eucharist is similar to Mai worship every week, on Fridays or Saturdays as may be generally fixed. “Prasad” corresponds to the distribution of wine and bread; ordination is similar preliminary to Mai Saadharan Pratignya and on the advanced stage, the dedication to service and taking Holy Orders to help the spread of religion is represented under Mai-ism through the Mai Adherents Oath or Mai Deeksha. Persons about to die receive the Extreme Unction sacrament when they are granted forgiveness for their sins. This ceremony is represented under Mai-ism as Mai Charan Nivartan or returning to Mai’s Lotus Feet.
What remains unreferred to is Penance. Under Mai-ism every weekly prayer ends with the Pardonseeking general prayer. With Christians, there is the custom of making confessions to the priest from time to time. This cannot be recommended as an obligatory function under Mai-ism as that is too much of entrusting one’s life secrets to any priests who are after all only human beings, lest such confidence and privacy should be abused at some fatal moment. All the same, the corresponding idea under Mai-ism may be explained here. Of course there is this psychology. Every one during difficulties and calamities comes to or corresponds with Maiji, and Maiji then without trying to know any details of sinfulness of anyone, gives a strong dose and always remains without sinfulness as otherwise no relief can be showered by Mai. It is further explained that Penance is like the downright sweeping of & dirtied marble floor with a hose pipe. The greatest point of Mai-ism is that it so very convincingly links up the Mai Grace showering with universal love and service and cheerful self-surrender, that the occasion of anyone approaching Mai-ism and Maiji is most directly utilised to start an entirely new clean slate without at all having to enter into details of the past irregularities, weaknesses, vices, ill actions, acts of sinfulness etc. Maiji does not want to pollute his own heart and brain with a thousand dirty details of individual worldly trivialities, nor does Maiji believe in any special improvement due to contrition on reminding any person of his past sinfulness. Devotion is many times much powerful and as a positive force than sorrowfulness of mere human heart on being reminded of the past.
Maiji does not accept the efficacy of the purgatory method with expiations and atonements in the usual methods prescribed under various religions but the positive method of constructive nature is more desirable in this age when everyone is too egoistic, never truthful and with the extremely short future outlook, has become reckless enough and evades any the smallest humiliating efforts, leaving the future to take care of itself.
Elucidation about details of sacrament will not be complete without the fundamental conception being repeated here. There are two working agencies in the governing of the universe. Religious world is no exception. There is the religiosity increasing agency as also the irreligiosity-increasing agency. Coming to the former, there are again similar forces, one of creating diversities from unity and the other of consolidating all diversities to restore the original unity. Mai-ism unlike all individual religions, which have innumerable sects, while working on the former principle is the universal religion which has for its final aim and goal the blending of all diversities to regain unity. No wonder then that Mai-ism is required to have the broadest definitions, notions, tolerance, and all-embracingness and greatest religiosity welcomeness. Thus Mother Mary or Kali Mata, if accepted and universalised and ridden of all individualistic religious paraphernalia is Mai. Mai, the origin of all God conceptions includes all, just as clay or gold implies all earthen vessels or gold ornaments.
In the matter of fulfilling the Mai-ism Sacraments all these three subtle positions must be clearly realised :
(a) All requirements, in however miniature and nominal a manner, must be undergone.
(b) For Mai-ists that much is more than enough.
(c) Mai-ism leaves every one free to do any additional ceremonies etc. as one chooses following the personal desire or as the communal custom requires.
Say, for instance in the case of Matrimony, that has to be done before Mai in a Mai Temple or, if that is not possible, before Mai in one’s own home, it is enough if the marriage is performed after mutual worship and Mai functions and for all other programmes one is free in respect of one’s any personal Deity, temple, worshipper, religious Acharya or personal Guru. The former is the indispensable measure for propitiating Mai whereas the latter is for the satisfaction of personal likes, or family, or social, communal or individual religious requirements.
In respect of any details, it must be clearly noted by all Mai-ists that Mai-ism is not only for giving the greatest latitude of individual harmless freedom as also the individual right of selection, but it has never claimed to have said anything as “the last word in religion.” Maiji’s patent argument is that no mother turns negligent about her litter-born children. Mai too can never be supposed to be any the less attentive to the future generations, regarding their particular requirements of that particular age with its particular tendencies and capacities. Just the reverse is the case of God conceived as Mother, the weakest child is to be the dearest and most cared for. Mai-ism not only does not dislike or consider too insignificant the outer non-essential details as at least in quantity they play a very significant part in the daily running and working of the world. Maiji insists upon a standing, fully wide-awake religious steel machinery in the shape of a permanent Mai-ism Institute that would be studying the people’s needs and calling all different proposals from expert thinkers and suggesting all-acceptable reforms from time to time.
Mai-ism has at the source of its strength and support neither the political powers or the capitalist’s powers, nor the physical Scientist’s powers. It does of course welcome, revere and even seek patronage from all great men of the world but without any sacrificing of its main principles, Mai-ism counts for its strength and survival on the spiritual forces and energies as all Mai-ists are richly rewarded by Mai’s Grace for their faithful and humble adhnherence. Mai-ism takes its safe stand miles away from politics, parties and elections and different rival schools of philosophies. Mai-ism has a fully democratic mentality but not that of the hypocritical type of democracy. Even today the plan and policy of Mai-ism is to invite all sided) view points on any important questions before any reform is proposed
Mai-ism has stated it in printing that it aims at churning out a solution that is better, than any of the best say twelve religious thinkers ! Mai-ism is sufficiently contented on the fulfilment of its aim and object of consolidating together all scattered religious forces of any nations countries or religions,
There is an old story viz. that a baby boy was claimed in court by two women as each one’s son. The Court decided that the son should be cut into two equal halves, to be shared by both the women. At this, the true mother of the child shouted out in tears: “Let my son live, although handed over to my opponent claimant.” That is the mentality of Mai-ism. With every relinquishment for which Mai-ism is ready, Mai-ism is contented with the only bare fact that the universal religion of Mai-ism survives all destructive agencies of atheism, materialism, individualism, mammonism, satanism, etc.
~ Author : Saint Mai Swarup Mai Markand
MAIISM 