Shashtipurti

Shashtipurti (Sanskrit: षष्ठीपूर्ति, romanized: Ṣaṣṭipūrti) or Shashtiabdapurti (Sanskrit: षष्ट्यब्दपूर्ति, romanized: Ṣaṣṭiabdapūrti) is a Hindu ceremony marking the completion of sixty years of age.^[1] It also marks the completion of half the years of one's lifetime in Hindu belief, as an age of one hundred and twenty years is considered the theoretical lifespan of a human being.^[2]

Etymology

Shashtipurti is a portmanteau derived from Sanskrit words shashti, meaning sixty,^[3] and abdapurti, meaning cycle of sixty years.^[4]

Description

The rituals that comprise this ceremony include the shanti and the kranti. The Ugraratha Shanti is a prayer sent to the heavens to make the post-sixty span a spiritually fulfilling experience.

After the successful completion of shanti, the kranti rituals, which signify the transition into a new life, most prominently include a ceremonial wedding and the reaffirmation of kalyana (marriage).

Shashtipurti is regarded to signify a bridge between the householder's domestic concerns and vanaprastha's (the third stage of life) spiritual yearnings. During vanaprastha, the married couple is to fulfill their life's mission by staying together through observance of celibacy.^[5] The Kalyana Veduka is a reminder of the unique role they are to play in the years to come.

Ceremony

The Shashtipurti takes place over a period of two days. The ceremony is commenced during an auspicious period by performing "Yamuna Puja", followed by the "Ganga Puja", "Ishta Devata Vandana", "Sabha Vandana", "Punyaha with Panchagavya Sevana", "Nandi Puja", "Ritvikvarana" and Kalasha Sthapana".

Kalasha sthapana of the deities - "Maha Ganapati", "Adityadi Navagraha", "Mrtunjaya","Samvatsara-Ayana-Ritu-Maasa-Paksha-Yoga devataa", "Karana devataa", "Raashyaadhipati (husband and wife)", "Navadurga", "Saptama Maru Devataa", "Dwadasha Aditya - Dhata, Aryama, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvan, Tvashta, Vishnu, Anhuman, Bhaga, Pusha and Parjanya", "Ayurdevataa, Istadevata, Kuladevata". Next Avahana-Praana Pratishthaapanam, Shodashopachaara puja, Mahamangalaarati, Navagraha and Ganapati Homam.

References

^ Thurston, Edgar (2020-09-28). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume IV of VII. Library of Alexandria. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-4655-8239-3.
^ Untracht, Oppi (1997). Traditional jewelry of India. Internet Archive. London : Thames and Hudson. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-500-01780-7.
^ Feuerstein, Georg (2022-08-16). The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra. Shambhala Publications. p. 333. ISBN 978-1-61180-185-9.
^ Wallace, DeWitt; Wallace, Lila Acheson (1990). The Reader's Digest. Reader's Digest Association. p. 12.
^ C.V, Dr Veda; Anitha.S, Mrs (2021-06-10). Spirituality and Social Work: An Indigenous Perspective. Booksclinic Publishing. p. 130. ISBN 978-93-90871-89-6.

[1] Thurston, Edgar (2020-09-28). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume IV of VII. Library of Alexandria. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-4655-8239-3.

[2] Untracht, Oppi (1997). Traditional jewelry of India. Internet Archive. London : Thames and Hudson. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-500-01780-7.

[3] Feuerstein, Georg (2022-08-16). The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra. Shambhala Publications. p. 333. ISBN 978-1-61180-185-9.

[4] Wallace, DeWitt; Wallace, Lila Acheson (1990). The Reader's Digest. Reader's Digest Association. p. 12.

[5] C.V, Dr Veda; Anitha.S, Mrs (2021-06-10). Spirituality and Social Work: An Indigenous Perspective. Booksclinic Publishing. p. 130. ISBN 978-93-90871-89-6.

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