Sithi

Sithi is one of the most fascinating festivals of Nepal which comes every year on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Jestha (May)month. The term Sithi, though very much Newarized, has Sanskritic origin.Its correct form is Sasthi which in Sanskrit means 6th day of the fortnight. This auspicious day is closely associated with the six-headed God Kumar, the elder son of Lord Shiva. His six heads are said to represent all the six senses (including the one which is known as an extra sensory perception). It is said that when one becomes capable enough to control all these six senses and set them to work hormoniously he is sure to have an easy access to the realisation of God. Kumar-as he has six heads-also has six very distinctive names such as Kartikeya,Gangeya,Skanda Sarvanabha,Sadanana,and Subrahmanya. As a matter of fact, he has many other names and forms too-but the six names mentioned above seem to be more appropriately attributed to him. However,his most commonly used name is Kumar.

Kumar-as the Puranas have. it-was born from the effulgent eye of Lord Shiva. Hence he is the eternal child of divine light and love.But he is worshipped often as the incarnate wisdom of ages unknown and the everbright spiritual brilliance. In other words, he is a holder of Trinity-symbolic of all three natural qualities viz., sattwic (creative),rajasic (preservative) and tamasic (destructive).Hence, he is an embodiment of beauty love and truth-all three in one.As the Shaktists would say,he is, above all, the God of Immanent Reality. Because he is the son of Shiva-Shakti, he is the emanation of Absolute Reality and Transcendent Reality. One of his most majestic names is considered to be Subrahmanya. A single-minded prayer to this particular name and form is believed to lead the worshipper to Supreme Reality or Para Brahmana. Such is the greatness of Kumar who is strongly believed to have been born on the sixth day of the bright fornight of Jestha month.

One of  the main features of this festival is the preparation of a rich variety of cakes. If we are to follow the tantric injunction eight different kinds of cakes from eight different kinds of foodgrains, such as, black pulse, masoor dry peas, rice, corn, barely, millet, and arrowroot should be made and offered to Lord Kumar.

The ritual worship of this deity is quite fascinating. The first thing the worshippers do is to mop the floor with the cow-dung mixed with red clay, and then  they draw on the ground a figure of six petalled lotus with ricepowder and vermillion (symbolic of the seat of Lord Kumar). this is followed by several other rituals. According to a great saint scholar the six-petalled lotus symbolizes the six chakras (PLEXUSES) in a human body through which Kundalini is said to transfer its entire energy into the supreme state of Samadhi or perfect Yoga. And the eight kinds of cakes mentioned above are believed to signify the eight different mudras or most magnificent moods of Lord Kumar.Astavidha Mudra is the term every house wife is advised to keep in mind while preparing ritual cake for the Kumar Puja. The cake is said to symbolize the earth which is round in shape. The cakes made on this occasion are always round in shape. These cakes are regarded as sacred seats of Lord Kumar and also as holy lotus flowers believed to represent his own divine form. This reminds me of a very old tradition of ours to worship a six as well as eight-petalled lotus flowers generally seen installed in front of the doorways of the old styled Nepalese houses. Those lotuses are made of stones and considered sacred symbols of Lord Kumar. All the varieties of cakes, fruits & other foodstuffs are offered to Lord Kumar.

 The colourful procession of Sithi Dyo (Kumar) begins when the miniature statue of Sithi Dyo (Kumar) is enshrined in a nicely decorated man-borne chariot which is to be carried out through the main thoroughfare of the town. The ceremonial procession actually starts from Nhugah Bahal near Jaisidewal, Kathmandu. This deity becomes the main attraction throughout the festival.

 It is said that Kumar prefers to live in the interior aspects of the earth. It must be remembered that one of his interesting names is Guha which means the dweller of human heart as well as of the earth. This reminds me of a very old Sanskrit text named Smriti Saroddhar which says that all the water-drops that come down from the clouds when the sun is on the way to Swati Nachhetra (asterism) and which are absorbed by the shells in the sea are turned into pure pearls. According to the same text Lord Kumar himself was born as a pearl. But the Skanda Purana has a different story to tell. It says that Kumar was born from the semen (skanda) of Lord Shiva which was trickled down on the ground when he was having the great union with Devi Parvati. It is quite understandable that pearls always come from deep waters of the ocean. The Sanskrit work Astang Sangraha rightly attaches great importance to the water from the river than to that of the ocean. The name given to this water is Gangodakam which represents none other than Ganga who is also the mother of Lord Kumar. Hence his name Gangeya.

 Kumar appears to have developed good link with the agricultural life and gained high popularity among the farmers His association with water spirits seems to have originated from the Ganga or the Gangeya theme. This reminds me of a very old custom of this country to clean the neighbourhood ponds, pools and wells on the Sithi Day. The main purpose of this cleanliness is obviously to please the water spirits like no gas and makaras dwelling in water. In other words, cleaning and worshipping the wells is like insuring themselves against the poisonous snake-bites or dangerous diseases of which they may fall victims to while working in the fields soaked with monsoon rain.

 Another interesting aspect of this festival is the cleanliness of one's body and house. Most of the people on this auspicious day get up early in the morning and go to the nearest river 'to take the purification-bath which is a big traditional 'must', and then they go to the temples to worship their favourite God Kumar with all the best dishes they have prepared for the occasion.

 This festival is considered to be the end of the entire chain of the festivals which begin with the first festival called Gathe Mangal in the month of Shrawan (July). This day is also regarded as the Daughter's Day. This probably has something to do with those Kritikas, six Wives of Rishis who breast-fed child Kumar soon after they found him lying in the thicket of reeds in the forest. But when we make more enquiry we find that this day is also the occasion for many other things. For instance a month's long religious season to worship one's family deity also comes to the end on this very day. Those who could not celebrate the Diwali Day for some reason in the past would celebrate this day. This day also seems to pull down the curtain on the stage of entertainments especially for the farmers of the Kathmandu Valley. The Jyapus (farmers) from the very next day of Sithi stop participating in any kind of musical performance until they are through with their rice plantation works in the fields. The only thing they are allowed to do in the name of entertainment is to sing the SINAJYA MEYAN which means the rice plantation songs without any accompaniment of the musical instruments.