Aksharaabhyasam or Vidyaarambham is one among the Shodasha Karma in which a child is guided to write the first letter of OM which signifies the sound that emanated when the universe was formed. Aksharaabhyasam is the initiation to give the child a formal education. The father places his child on his lap and guides his child to write OM followed by all the letters of the alphabet. Priests chant mantras to invoke Goddess Saraswathi, the goddess of learning and knowledge to bless the child.