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==== अक्षराभ्यासः ॥ Aksharabhyasa or Vidyarambha ====

==== अक्षराभ्यासः ॥ Aksharabhyasa or Vidyarambha ====

Also called as Aksharavishkarana (अक्षराविष्करणम्), [[Vidyarambha (विद्यारम्भः)]] was performed at the commencement of the primary education. Fifth year was prescribed but if postponed it had to be performed before upanayana samskara. Though not mentioned in the Grhya sutras under the Shodasa samskaras, this ritual is mentioned in the recent [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|dharmashastras]] according to some scholars but not attached with importance as the Upanayana.<ref name=":0" /> [[Grhyasutras (गृह्यसूत्राणि)|Grhyasutras]] and Dharmasutras have laid down rituals for occasions like [[Annaprasanam (अन्नप्रासनम्)|Annaprasana]] (first instance of food given to child) and grihya-[[Nishkramana Samskara (निष्क्रमणम्)|nishkramana]] (first outing of the child) but failed to mention the commencement of education prior to Upanayana samskara. It may be attributed to the reason that writing of alphabet was not prevalent as commencement of vedic education involved memorization of mantras as against writing.

Also called as Aksharavishkarana (अक्षराविष्करणम्), [[Vidyarambha (विद्यारम्भः)]] was performed at the commencement of the primary education. Fifth year was prescribed but if postponed it had to be performed before upanayana samskara. Though not mentioned in the Grhya sutras under the Shodasa samskaras, this ritual is mentioned in the recent [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|dharmashastras]] according to some scholars but not attached with importance as the Upanayana.<ref name=":0" /> [[Grhyasutras (गृह्यसूत्राणि)|Grhyasutras]] and Dharmasutras have laid down rituals for occasions like [[Annaprashana (अन्नप्राशनम्)|Annaprashana]] (first instance of food given to child) and grihya-[[Nishkramana Samskara (निष्क्रमणम्)|nishkramana]] (first outing of the child) but failed to mention the commencement of education prior to Upanayana samskara. It may be attributed to the reason that writing of alphabet was not prevalent as commencement of vedic education involved memorization of mantras as against writing.

The activity of Aksharabhyasa is fairly simple, requiring the young boy or girl to worship Sarasvati Devi, the devata for learning, Vinayaka, devata for removing obstacles and the deities of the family. The father or purohit makes the child write the name of deity (usually Shiva for auspiciousness) on rice with his finger (golden or silver pen in some instances). Suitable danas are made to the purohit and the Brahmanas invited for the ceremony which marks the end of the ceremony.  

The activity of Aksharabhyasa is fairly simple, requiring the young boy or girl to worship Sarasvati Devi, the devata for learning, Vinayaka, devata for removing obstacles and the deities of the family. The father or purohit makes the child write the name of deity (usually Shiva for auspiciousness) on rice with his finger (golden or silver pen in some instances). Suitable danas are made to the purohit and the Brahmanas invited for the ceremony which marks the end of the ceremony.