Shashti Poorthi (known also as "Shashti Abdha Poorthi" or "Ugraratha Shanti") is a Hindu ceremony celebrating the 60th birthday of a male, akin to the renewal of marital vows.
Etymology
Shasti Poorthi is celebrated on completion of 60 years of age of the male. This term is derived from Sanskrit in which Shashti means sixty; abda–year; poorthi-completion. It marks completion of half the years of one's lifetime as in Hinduism, 120 years is considered the life span of a human being. The sixtieth year in one’s life is a significant milestone, memorable turning point, a touching reminder of the rich, mellowed life that would unfold in the years to come. In fact, the Hindu calendar has 60 years (named Prabhava, Vibhava, etc.) that repeat themselves after every 60 years in a sequence. Shashti poorthi marks the completion of one such cycle. For example, a person born in the year Pramodootha and has lived for 60 years will have seen all the 60 years in the calendar. This milestone marks celebration and gratitude for life given by God. So once his birthday arrives in Pramodootha year, he performs his Shashti poorthi. In recent days, children started doing this ritual to their parents, just as their parents performed all of their rituals in their childhood.
The veda says "Janmaabde, Janmamaasecha Swajanmadivase tathaa, Janmarshe chaiva kartavyaa shanti rugrarathaahvayaa, Devaalaye nadeeteere swagruhe vaa shubhasthale"
The sages and the rishis of lore have acknowledged the sanctity of the sixtieth year in one’s life and have drawn out elaborate rituals to mark this special event. They looked at it as rebirth and suggested the repetition of those rituals performed at one’s birth. Hence this celebration at this point of life is a sacred part of the hallowed Vedic culture.
The Shastipoorthi Shanti should be performed in the sixty first year and in the same month and day of birth according to the Indian Zodiac. This is considered to be the best option. In case it is not possible to time it exactly on the same day, allowance is given to perform it on a convenient day during and before the completion of sixtieth year. The choice of the place to carry out this tradition could be a pilgrim town, a temple, a river bank or even one's residence. As part of the celebrations the couple's children perform their parents' second wedding. This is reason for a grand family reunion to incorporate an important event in the couple's married life.
Shanti
The rituals carved out as part of Shanti are also referred to as Ugraradha Shanti. Ugraradha is nothing but the harsh natured time. In a hundred-year time scale of man's life, pre-sixty is a period of materialistic pursuit while the post-sixty span is slated for spiritual endeavour. The Ugraradha Shanti is a prayer sent to the heavens to make the post-sixty span a spiritually fulfilling experience.
Three different ways are chiseled to carry out the Shanti aspect. They are "Shounakoktam, Bodhaayanoktam and Shaivaagamoktam"
The basic elements of these three ways remain the same, though the contents vary marginally. Of all, Shaivaagamokta Shanti is very elaborate and ritual-laden. Given its exhaustive scope of rituals, only a limited few like the kings and the emperors can follow it in toto, though it is not entirely ruled out for devout householders.
Kranthi
After the successful completion of the "Shanti" programme, the Kranthi programme follows in which "Kalyaanam" is very important. "Kranthi" means "to step ahead" and signifies heading towards a new life.
"Shastipoorthi" is a good bridge - builder between the householder's domestic concerns and Vaanaprasta's spiritual yearnings. During Vaanaprastha, the married couple is to fulfill their life's mission by staying together through observance of celibacy. The "Kalyaana Veduka" is a reminder of the unique role they are to play in the years to come. Marriage in the younger days promises physical proximity, while the one performed now brings about spiritual affinity.
Thus the Shanti - Kranthi aspects, which run through the "Shastipoorthi" celebrations provide a fusion of spiritual and social obligations which are the very bed rock the Indian culture.
The Ceremony
This ceremony should be performed as per Guru and elderly persons instructions. Generally this ceremony is two days programme. The ceremony is commenced in Shubha Muhurutham by performing "Yamuna Pooja", followed by the "Ganga Pooja", "Ishta Devatha Vandana", "Sabha Vandana", "Punyaha with Panchagaavya Sevana", "Naandi Pooja", "Ruthwikgvarana" and Kalasha Sthapana".
Kalasha sthapana of the deities - "Maha Ganapathi", "Adithyadhi Navagraha", "Mrutunjaya","Samvatsara-Aayana-Ruthu-Maasa-Paksha-Yoga devatha", "Karana devatha", "Raashyadhipathi (pathi and pathni)", "Navadurga", "Sapthama Maru Devatha", "Dwadasa Aditya - Dhata, Aryama, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvan, Tvashtha, Vishnu, Amshuman, Bhaga, Pusha and Parjanja", "Ayurdevatha, Istadevatha, Kuladevatha". Next Avaahana-Praana Pratishtapanam, Shodashopachara pooja, Mahamangalaarathi, Navagraha and Ganapati Homam.