Ramaa Golwalkar
DnyÄnamudrÄ Centre For Techno-Creative Education, Nagpur, India
Title: Upanayan SanskÄr: A Vedic Ritual of Classical Conditioning of Brain With specific reference to language, perception, learning, memory, attention, problem solving, reasoning and decision making
Biography:
Ramaa Golwalkar is a Communicologist and Indologist pursuing her post-doctoral research from Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute Pune on the topic ‘Ritualistic Visual Symbols of Ancient Indian Communication System. She worked as Assistant Professor and trainer for media and communication at Symbiosis International University, Pune and various other prestigious educational institutes for culture and communication. She is a published writer and her books are widely referred by the journalism and mass communication students of Maharashtra State of India. Her weekly column on deciphering ancient Indian Symbols in the daily Tarun Bharat is well-received and appreciated by the common readers and elites
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: The focus of this paper is to analyse the impact of Upanayan sanskÄr and GÄyatri Mantra (GM) on the brain body and mind with the initial hypothesis that both the ritual and the chant classically condition the brain provides favourable condition to tune the body and mind for better learning.
Indian culture being the oldest living culture in world known for its multi-disciplinary diverse approach towards teaching and learning its ancient education system. There are 16 different rituals prescribed in Vedas (dates back before circa 1900 B.C.E.) to be performed at 16 different stages of human life to make it worth living. These rituals are popularly known as sanskÄr namely process in all the regional languages in India. Upanayan sanskÄr is prescribed to be performed at the age of 8 and the child becomes entitled to chant GÄyatri Mantra (GM) and leaves his parents to stay with his Guru for formal education.