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Upanayanam
- Brahmmobadesam
by
TRS Iyengar
The Sanskrit word Upanayanam is made of Upa and
Nayanam. (vision through knowledge). Literally, it is identified as the second vision known as
Wisdom & knowledge. Also, Dwijan as we call the boy to whom the ceremony is
being performed, is known to get the second birth - first being born on
the earth with physical body and second being "taking one near to
wisdom". through this ceremony. Essentially it has two parts. First is
the investiture of the three stranded thread called Yagjnopaveetham. The second
part is the Brahmmobadesam - taking one to the Brahmman - a recitation into his
right ear the Gayathri mantra. This is usually
performed by his father, who becomes the Teacher known as Guru to the boy..
The Youngster is thus, made eligible to be taken near the Vedas, so that he
can study them and practice what is ordained upon him, in the Vedas. Here is the
simplest way I explain the ritual known as Upanayanam - Brahmmobadesam. This
ritual is performed with a larger gathering of friends, family relations and
others to bless the boy. And from this day, he begins his routine Sandhya
Vandanam - a regular prayer done thrice a day - during Morning, Noon & in
the Evening. Also, from the day of Upanayanam & Brahmmobadesam, he start
to perfom the Samitha Dhanam, a holy fire sacrifice, which he is supposed to
perform daily.
Gayathri: The mantra that protects the
recitor.
AUM
BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA,
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT.
Summary
of the Gayatri Mantra
ॐ
भूर्भुव: स्व:
तत्सवितुर्वरेन्यं
। भर्गो
देवस्य धीमहि,
धीयो यो न:
प्रचोदयात्
।।
Oh
God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower of
happiness, Oh! Creator of the Universe, May we receive thy supreme
sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.
This Vedic mantra is a two liner and translate i its simplest form as: We
meditate and bow before the exalted Dweller of the effulgent sun Who kindles our
intellect.
While uttering this mantra OM BHURBHUVAHA is
always added to invoke the
Supreme Lord of the three worlds.
A word of caution about the pronunciation and articulation of this mantra is
needed. We strongly advise that this sacred mantra be uttered only after getting
taught its pronunciation by a person well versed in the correct recitation of
the Vedas.
There are various forms ceremonies, and rituals which mark the diverse stages
and activities of men. Samskaaram (signifying cleansing) is the comprehensive
Indian word for these forms. these are secular (like a handshake), civil (like
certification by a legal authority), or religious( like birth rites) in
character.
The Indian society is
characterized by four broad choices (varnnyam or Varnam) of
occupation, and the Ulpanayanam is administered to those who opt for religious
education and practice, or the organized defense of a nation or community, or
commercial operations according to established norms and practices. The ceremony
is regarded as important as a re-awakening and creates for the functionaries the
obligation to a life-long commitment of ethical principles, the ambience of
Dharma. The passage through the ceremony confers the identity of Dvija (of dual
birth) on these three groupings of citizens.
While every person is endowed with a autonomous ability to identify and
verify objects of nature and human situations, a conscious search for knowledge
is best facilitated by enrolling with an appropriate mentor (Achaarya). The
expression Upanayanam indicates a preceptors leading the pupil on a spiritual
quest of meaning and purpose. The Upanayam ceremony has two initial stages. THe
Upaveetham involves the investiture of the sacred thread which is a three
stranded loop (representing the three entities of creation, the chit or the
animate, the anachit or the inanimate and the Eesvara the Lord) with a
consecrated knot (Brahmagranthi), worn on the left shoulder across the midriff.
The Upaveetham is the accessory in the worship of the Lord Supreme, Vishnu-Naarayana.
The Upaveetham thread is known as Yagnjopaveetham in acknowledgement that the
Lord is Yagna (Yagno vai Vishnu).
The Upanayanam signifies the purpose of it all, namely, the reaching for
God-awareness through the study of the Upanishad. This mission of reaching or
knowing (Brahna-jijnaasaa) is to be realized by means of the sacred formula (Gaayathri
Mantram) imparted in the second stage which is thus named Bramopadesam. The
young pupil is now known as the Brahmachaarinn, the candidate for the knowledge
of Godhead.
The Gaayathri
Mantram, hitched to the pranavam, is the precious acquisition
of the ceremony, and yields unfailing protection to the one who recites it. The
mantram and its metre is adored as the Mother of all sacred formulas and metres,
Gaayathri Chhandasaam Maataa. This mantram is to be imbibed with due attention
and veneration, and in privacy. There is an ongoing electronic-media commerce in
singing this mantram, and this is a gross offence.
The mantram speaks of
Devasya, savitu: and bharga charting the Lord (Deva:)
who is in the lustre (bharga:) of the sun (savitaa). The cognomen deva: is from
dyu: for lustre, and relates to the Indo-European dei and deity. Savithaa, a
masculine noun, is for the Sun, but is a substitute for prasavitaa (from sou to
bring forth), the maker. Bharge: is effulgence. The following texts establish
the Gaayathri as a hymn for the Lord, Sri Maha Vishnu - Sriman Narayana.
The Upanishad text describe the Lord as dwelling in and radiating from the
Sun. The Lord is identifies in specific descript such as Lotus-eyed (Chaandogyam),
the pure animation (Suddha-sattvam) forming the core dwelling of the Lord in the
Sun (Maitreyaaani), bharga signifying Vishnu (Yaajna-valkya smrti),
savitr-mandala-madhya-vartree (agneya puraanam), Vishnu's supreme magnificence
known as Rk, Yajur, Saama, enveloping the Sun's core (Vishnu puraanam), in
Purushasooktam which speaks of the Sun's radiance transcending darkness (aaditya-varnam
tamasa: parstaat), the Narayanasooktam describing how
the lightning streaks out of the dark cloud (neela-toyada-madhyasthaat), in Sri
Raamaayanam which is revered as Vedic redaction, Seeta identifying herself with
Sri Raama even as the luminosity inheres in the Sun (bhaaskarena prabhaa yathaa).
The
Udhaga Shanthi ( Uthaka Shanti) Japam recitals takes place normally the earlier
day. The boy is being prepared with mentally and physically to take the
Brahmmacharyam through the recitals and also with cleansing him with the Holy
water. Then the Panchacavyam - a combination of Cow's Urine, Milk, Curd, and the
holy water and mixed after recitals of specific Slokas & Mantras to purify
the boys body & soul. Then the naandhi
srardham (known as Abhvyooham to Srivaishnavas( is performed the day previous to the upanayanam and a very
important requirement is stressed by the administering priest/aacharya-
manasamaadheeyataam, Compose your mind! This is a pre-condition for
receiving instruction, retaining and practicing it. Srimad Bhagavad-Gita Sri
Krishna reiterating this discipline, samaahitamanaas srunu, Listen thou
with a tranquil mind!
Normal
age to perform Upanayanam: between 7 and 15 years.. generally odd running year
is taken. If performed after the age of 15 years, then no need to stick to
this rule. Best period for performing the ritual is during the Tamil month
Maasi, which fall during Mid February to Mid March. However, during UtharayaNa
period this can be performed. I.E. from Mid January till Mid July ( Tamil
months from Thai to Aani). During Dakshinayana, it is advisable to avoid
performing Upanayanam. Also, for Sama Veda followers must avoid performing
Upanayanam during the time when Mars is set (Kuja Asthamanam), for Rg Vedis to
avoid during Jupiter's setting, (Guru Asthamanam) and Yajur Vedi's to avoid
during Venus setting period (Sukra Asthamanam). On the day of Muhurtham, the
8th house to the selected day's Muhurtham should be clean and without any
malifics. This is a must for performing the Brahmmobadesam. Due to paucity of
time and availability of halls and economical considerations, nowa-a-days, the
Udhaka Shanthi, Nandhi and Upanayanam/Brahmmobadesam is performed in a single
day.
Here
are some interesting facts about the Poonool known as
Yagnjopaveetham:
The
sacred thread consists of three strands, (all common to
Srivaishnavas, Smarthas & other Bachellors) joined by a knot
known as Brahmagranthi or the knot of Brahma. The three strands
symbolizes the Hindu trinity - Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. There are
various interpretations of the three strands to represent many of
the other triads like Mahasarasvati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali. Or
the three qualities known as sattva, rajas and tamas; past, present
and the future; the three states - wakefulness, dream and deep
sleep. Some even say that it represents the three dimensions known
as heaven (swarga), earth (martyaloka) and nether regions (patala).
But
the most important meaning of the three strands is ida, pingala and
sukshama nadi, through which the kundalini energy manifests as prana
and consciousness. Yajno-pavita means 'thread of
sacrifice.' That is so called because it symbolizes the sacrifice
of ego, Anger & selfishness.
According
to the Manusmrti which specifies the following ages for the
initiation ceremony to take place:
In
the eighth year after conception, (i.e. at the age of 7 on birth)
one should perform the initiation of sacred thread) of a Brahmin, in
the eleventh year after conception for a Kshatriya and in the
twelfth year that of a Vaisya. (Manu Smruthi II.36).
The
sacred thread is a passport to obtain Vedic education. It is a
prerequisite for learning Veda and also for marriage. For without
it, in those days, no Brahmin man can dream of getting a bride for
him. It was considered important because a person with Yajnopavitha
must have undergone all the oaths associated with wearing it and
should have led a celibate life and should have completed a major
portion of his Vedic Sastras and education. A Brahmachari known as
bachelor wears a single sacred thread that has three strands.
A married person wears a pair of three bands each. A person who is
married who is very orthodox, still with the family but has Sanyasa
within the Grahasthasrama (does his daily routine and duties in the
family, but unattached - like a drop of water lay on the lotus
leaves).
Note:
You can take a print out of this, publish
this in a small booklets and distribute along with your invitation cards so as
to spread the real meaning of the function. Persons who are unaware of this
rationale meaning can surely benefit by reading this and while witnessing the
function. It would be of pleasure to add this source of information in your booklets i.e. a
reference to this website - www.trsiyengar.com
.
In
addition to the above list, a table spoon rice flour and two tea spoons full of
cummin seeds (kaduku / Rai) to be kept ready for the Homam.
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