Upanayana (Entry into School) – Symbolizing the leading or drawing towards the self of a child, in a school, by a teacher, Upanayana is when a child goes to school for the first time. While in the ancient times it was for children who were eight years of age, in modern times all ages of children are open to begin school. In this ceremony, the Guru, accepts and draws a child towards knowledge and initiates the second birth that is of the young mind and spirit. As we read in the previous blog, a person takes two births, first physically through their mother and second intellectually through their teacher. This is their second birth. Compared with Baptism in Christianity, this ceremony also marks the introduction of the child into Spirituality. In the ancient times, owing to the caste system and the economical divide, children were introduced to school and education accordingly. For instance, the son of a priest would learn the Vedas, the son of a warrior would learn warfare, the son of a sculptor would learn art, so one and so forth. In the modern times, this division is finished and all children are taught everything and their parents are free to choose their school and methods of education.