SHASHTYABDAPURTI

षष्ट्यब्दपूर्तिः

-- Sandhya Anand

The Shashtyabdapurti or completion of 60th birth anniversary is considered as an important event in the Sanatana way of life and culture. It is worthy to note that in the mundane life too the retiring age is set around age 60. Saying good-bye to the active official work, a person retires and from this age on he/she may prefer to pursue his/her left out chores -- pilgrimage and the like. Spiritual seekers seriously take up learning and associated dharmic practices. They know that the ultimate aim is to merge with Isvara or the Supreme Reality. It is undoubtedly difficult to achieve this goal but it is definitely possible by constant (abhyasa) practice and by (vairagya) detachment. Here comes the need to have a healthy body. "To fulfill your dharma, first start with the body" says Kalidasa. 

The normal life expectancy of a healthy person according to the Veda is 100. Jyotisha-sastra under the Ududasa system calculates it to be 120 years. The Upanishad allots 116 years. Bhagavan Krishna, though beyond age, is said to have lived in human form for 125 years in this earth. 

As we age, the body exhibits degenerative changes in all its functions. By age 60 (half of full span 120), the body becomes susceptible to diseases. It can be challenging times. Our sastras have foreseen the degenerative nature the body, mind and intellect may undergo and advises us to invoke Isvara-anugraha through performance of purificatory and pacificatory rites called Santhi and Pushti-karmas. Shashtyabdapurti-santhi is one among the rites for ensuring physical and mental well being. Here it would be beneficial to have a look at the different santi-karmas in general and the time for their performance. 

(1)

Ugraratha-santhi : 

On completion of 59 and beginning of 60.

(2)

Shashtyabdapurti-santhi : 

On completion of 60 and beginning of 61.

(3)

Bhimaratha-santhi : 

On completion of 69 and beginning of 70.

(4)

Vijaya-santhi : 

On completion of 77 and and beginning of 78.

(5)

Sathabhiseka-santhi : 

On completion of 100, or on completion of 80 years and 8 months.

(Sahasra-chandra-darshana) done in Uttarayana, Shuklapaksha.

(6)
Kanakabhisheka :
When there are four generations of first born sons in the family.

We enter into this world with a big karmic baggage called Prārabdha taken out of the past Sanchitha karmas (heap). It can be exhausted only by undergoing the effects. By doing these ordained rituals, the negative effects of prārabdha will get obliterated to a certain extent, giving relief, leading to a new spark of energy. According to the Dharma and Jyotisha-sastras the period between beginning and ending of 60 years is considered harsh and critical. The planetary positions, gantantha, etc. generally may not be favourable at this period. 

In Sanskrit, shashti means 60, abda denotes year, poorti means completion. The ritual is conducted in the same 60 year Hindu calendric cycle, month and the day of the nakshatra the person is born. It is elaborate and is completed in two days. The devatas who are meditated, worshiped and prayed are:

1. Mrtyunjaya, 2. Brahma, Vishnu, Eleven Rudras, 3. Markandeya, 4. Navagrahas, 5. Seven Chiranjeevis, 6. Aayuh, 7. Samvatsara-devatas, 8. Nakshatra-devatas, 9. Dikpalakas, 10. Sapta-rishis.

To mark it as an event, the 60th birthday, nowadays, is celebrated with great pomp and extravagance. The children extend the invitation for the functions and in a way we can say that it's a kind of insurance they take on their parents for ensuring a relaxed life full of peace.

In the modern world a kind of remarriage of the couple is enacted but it has no sanction in the scriptures.

Aum Santih Santih Santih.