Eight Hindu-American high school students and their families, along with some members of the community, gathered together on June 11, 2016, in Sarva Dev Mandir, Oxford, MA, to celebrate their graduation from High School in a traditional Vedic service. The graduates, their proud parents, friends, scholars, pujaris, and several Temple committee members assembled early on Saturday morning to participate in this unique Samskara, held in the United States for the ninth time. The Ninth annual graduation pooja was cosponsored by Sarva Dev mandir and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America.

The service began with the lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest, Dr. Anuradha Annaswamy, followed by the Ekta Mantra, flawlessly recited by Srinidhi, Krishna and Amruth. This mantra reminds us all of the underlying unity among all Hindus, regardless of their background or social standing. The Emcees, Srinidhi and Amruth, both high school juniors, conducted the entire ceremony and guided everyone through the morning. After a recitation of the Saraswati Vandana, Shri Ravi Sreedhar introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Anuradha Annaswamy, who addressed the graduates and their families, and inspired them to do their best and keep going in the face of all odds.  

The Vandana of the Devi of Learning had a calming effect on the audience, with the graduates prepared to participate in the ensuing pooja and absorb the messages from Pandit ji and the various speakers.

The temple pujari, Pandit Shivram Sharma ji, conducted the service beginning with Sri Ganesha Pooja followed by Ma Saraswati Pooja. He emphasized that everyone should respect his/her parents, teachers and Ishwar. By respecting your parents and teachers, you are respecting Ishwar as well. Each graduate participated individually and collectively in the Pooja seeking success in college and future educational efforts.

All students were called individually, their accomplishments acknowledged, and awarded a graduation certificate with a bag of gifts on behalf of the Temple by Pandit Shivram ji. They all had a chance to talk for 2-3 minutes about their accomplishments, goals, and aspirations as they accepted their awards.

The final remarks and blessings were given by Dr. Abhaya Asthana. He inspired the students to continue on their quest for higher learning, and always leave room for Ishwar and Self development. He reminded everyone that the Hindu culture is a culture of gratitude, respect, acceptance, self-discipline and service. The students are fortunate to have their education, their families, and their supportive community.

The ceremony was followed by a delicious lunch which was lovingly prepared by the families of the graduating students. All the students agreed that this was an event that will live forever in their memory, as a motivation to excel above and beyond. The education samskaras are considered most important as Hindus recognize education to be the stepping stone to future enlightenment for eventual liberation from the bondage of rebirths. A samskara ceremony creates a positive imprint or channel in the mind of the recipient akin to a little path. The purpose is to guide future thoughts and resulting actions to travel along this familiar path assisting the individual to think and act in an appropriate manner conducive to living in accordance with dharma. The students are fortunate to have this samskara service conducted by interested friends. Indeed, all present were blessed to be in the direct presence of Sri Ganesha and Ma Saraswati, with the accomplishment of all four goals of life: dharma (right living), artha (wealth), kama (pleasure), and moksha (liberation).

All students were asked to bow to Sri Ganesha, Ma Saraswati, their mothers, their fathers, and all others present in the congregation, as God resides in all. They were further asked to go out fearlessly in the world and to be proud to call themselves Hindu Americans.

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