The Samskara of Upanayana is a very ancient one

Adityadarsana, Upayana, Maunjibandana , Batukarana and Vratabandha are its synonyms. The ancient Apasthamba Sutra describes Upanayana as a samskara, a purificatory rite, where a student is imparted the Sruti, the sacred Gayatri Mantra. Through performance of this rite a student is brought to the teacher for learning the Vedas.

Taitiriya Samhita contains a passage, which makes a reference to the three debts of a brahmana. His debts are to the Sages, Gods and men. His debt to the sages ends when he becomes a brahmachari. His debt to Gods ends when he performs sacrifices. His debt to mankind ends when he begets a son.

During the very ancient times it is probable that the Father himself taught his son. From the times of the Taitiriya Samhita and the Brahmanas, the student always went to the house of a Guru and stayed in his house. A brahmanchari had to beg for his food, look after sacrificial fires of his guru and take care of his cattle. Various Sutras and Smritis mention about the auspicious season when Upanayana is to be performed, the proper age for Upanayana, the type of animal skin, garments, the girdle and the staff for the brahmacharis of different varnas, yagnopavita, principal rites such as taking the hand of the student by the teacher, touching his chest marking his acceptance of him as his student, paridhana, medhaganana and study of Vedas and daily recitation of them.

Proper Age for Upanayana

According to Asvalayana Grihya Sutra a brahmana boy should have his upanayana at the age of 8, a kshatriya at the age of 11, and a vaisya at the age of 12. The years are calculated from conception. According to Manu to achieve spiritual eminence a brahmana boy should have his upanayana at the age of 5, kshatriya boy desiring military prowess at the age of 6, and a vaisya desiring to accumulate wealth at the age of 8. Vaikhanasa Smarta Sutra however prescribes 5th, 8th or 9th year from conception for a brahmana boy desiring spiritual eminence, long life and health .The Apasthamba Dharma Sutra prescribes 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th year for one desiring spiritual eminence, long life, brilliancy, abundant food and physical vigour.

The auspicious season for Upanayana of a brahmana was Vasanta. It was Summer or h
Hemanta for a Kshatriya and
Sarad for a Vaisya, The Bharadwaja Grihya Sutra that prescribes all these also adds that it should be Varsha ritu (rainy season) for carpenters and Sisira ritu for all.

Later day scriptures have detailed information about months, thithis, days and times for performance of Upanayana. There are very elaborate astrological details. These can be referred to in Nirnaya Sindhu and Dharma Sindhu.

A brahmachari had to wear two garments, one upper and the other lower. Apasthamba Dharma Sutra prescribes garment made of hemp for brahmana, of flax for kshatriya and deerskin for Vaisya. Some prescribe lower garment should be of cotton, colored reddish-yellow for brahmana, madder-red for kshatriya and turmeric for vaisyas. There are many such stipulations from various authorities. The above is given only as an example.

STAFF

A brahmachari had to carry a staff. According to Asvalayana Griha Sutra it should be of palsa wood for a brahmana, udumbara wood for a kshatriya and bilva for a vaisya but other authorities mention other trees as well. The length of the staff varied according to the varna of the boy and here as well there are different opinions. Gautama Dharma Sutra says that the staff should be one not eaten by worms, should have its bark attached, and should have a curved tip. Manu adds that it should be strait, pleasing to look at and should not be burnt. The Samkhayana Grihya Sutra says that the brahmachari should not allow anyone to pass between himself and his staff. Should his staff or girdle or yagnopavita get damaged, the brahmachari should undergo a penance and discard the damaged ones in water while chanting the prescribed mantras and acquire fresh ones.

MEKHALA OR GIRDLE

Gautama, Asvalayana, Bodhayana, Manu, Kathaka and Bhargava prescribe a girdle made of munja grass to be tied around the waist of a brahmana, of murva grass (used in ancient days to make bow strings) for a kshatriya and one made of hemp cords for a vaisya. Other authorities differ.

There are many elaborate descriptions about the Upanayana ceremony by several authorities and there are differences among them. As regards the wearing of Yagnopavita, Asvalayana, Apasthamba, and many other sutrakaras do not mention it at all. Hiranyakesi Grihya Sutra, and Manava Grihya Sutra however say that the brahmachari already wears the yagnopavita before the homa commences. Baudayana Grihya Sutra says that the boy is given the yagnopavita and is asked to wear it while chanting the mantra “yagnopaveetam paramam pavitram….tejasah.” Vaikhanasa Smarta Sutra says that the upper garment, yagnopaveeta, and black antelope skin are worn while chanting the appropriate mantras.

This is followed by tasting of curds thrice while chanting the mantra “dhadikravno akarisham….etc”. The teacher then asks the boy his name and the boy gives his abhivadaniya name, which is either derived from a nakshatra of birth or derived, from a deity or from gotra. As time passed more mantras and details got added to the samskara of Upanayana.

YAGNOPAVITA

The ancient texts refer to wearing of yagnopavita in three forms. One is Upavita where the yagnopavita is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm. This is for the Gods. The second, Prachinavita is where the yagnopavita is worn above the right shoulder and under the left arm. This is used for pitrs. When the yagonopavita is worn around the neck and over the chest and is held with both thumbs in the region of the heart and above the naval, it is Nivita. Nivita form is to be used during rishi tarpana, sexual intercourse, samskaras of ones children except when homa was performed, answering the calls of nature, carrying a corpse, etc.

During ancient times Upavita, Prachinavita and Nivita were methods of wearing ones upper garment. The Smriti Chandrika quotes a passage attributed to Rishi Risyasringa
“one may carry out all purposes for which yagnopavita is required by means of a garment and in its absence by a string of three threads”!

The yagnopavita is to have three threads of nine strands, according to Boudhayana Dharma Sutra. Devala, quoted by Smriti Chandrika identifies nine devatas of the nine dantus (strings). They are Omkara, Agni, Naga, Soma, Pitrs, Prajapati, Vayu, Surya, and All Gods. According to Medhatithi, in ishtis, animal sacrifices and soma sacrifices the yagnopavita was to be one thread consisting of three dantus. It should be one of three threads consisting of nine dantus in the case of Ahina, Ekaha and Sattra sacrifices as these sacrifices require three sacrificial fires. The yagnopavita should reach as far as the naval, should njot go below the naval and and should not be above the chest..

Vadhyar.com offers this service according to your personal needs and requirements. To invite a priest(vadhyar/Shstriji) to perform the rituals to carry out your special ceremony, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.

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