When a woman is pregnant and the stipulated rituals are performed, it is customary to invoke the river which is close to where the rituals are performed. Sages would have done penance on the banks of rivers, and it is hoped that the auspiciousness which would have accrued to the place on account of this, will confer benefits on the unborn child. The mantras are supposed to be recited to the accompaniment of the veena, said V.S. Karunakarachariar. The idea is that the music will help the foetus absorb the mantras. The mantras speak of God being the Master of the Universe.

Can a mantra register in the mind of a child? There is evidence to show that it can, as seen in the story of Prahlada. The asura Hiranyakasipu is away and has left behind his pregnant wife Kayathu. Indra, the king of the celestials, taking advantage of the absence of Hiranyakasipu, abducts Kayathu. Narada, points out to Indra how wrong his act of abduction is. Indra paying heed to Sage Narada's words, lets Kayathu go. Narada then takes Kayathu to his hermitage, so that she will be safe under his care.

Every day as Narada recites mantras, he also plays the veena. The child Prahlada in Kayathu's womb is thus exposed to the name of Lord Narayana even as a foetus. And he hears the powerful name to the accompaniment of the sweet notes of the veena that Narada plays. Kayathu prays to Narada that she should not give birth until her husband returns, for she fears for the safety of her child. Narada confers on her the boon she asks for.

She carries her child for years until the return of her husband. All the while the child is listening repeatedly to Lord Narayana's name being recited by Narada. Thus it is almost as if Kayathu is going through a Seemantha ceremony everyday for many years! And if the benefit to the foetus of just one such ceremony is significant, imagine the value of a repeated performance, which is what happened in the case of Prahlada. No wonder he turned out to be a great Vishnu bhakta, and remained unaffected by any of his father's threats or acts of cruelty. Prahlada's story shows us the value of our rituals and the importance of music as a means of conveying valuable lessons.

(Courtesy: The Hindu)