UPANAYANAM

Since time immemorial, different ceremonies have been performed to greet the arrival of youth. Upanayanam is an initiation into brahmacharyasrama. The father teaches his son the gayatri mantra which is believed to be the basis of all mantras. It is the essence of Rigveda, Samaveda and Yajurveda. He is then declared a Brahmachari and ready to learn Vedas and scriptures. So the best time to learn “Bhagavad Gita” and Vedanta philosophy begins here and now.

Naandhimukha Ceremony:

A ceremony performed to obtain the blessings of the ancestors of the family before the festive occasion of the Upanayanam.

Uthakashanthi:

For the purification of the mind and body and the protection of the child, all the deities are invoked in water through the chanting of the manthras and this water is poured over the child, during the Uthakashanthi.

Aajyabhaagaantha Homam:

By praying to the god of Fire, Agni, the child is blessed with long life, intellect, courage etc.

Yagnopaveethadhaaranam:

The father places the sacred thread across the child’s left shoulder under the advice of Guru. The sacred thread consists of three strands signifying Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. This represents also Jnana, Karma and Bhakthi. What comes next is Moonji a girdle made out of Munja grass is tied around the waist of the child. This is to protect his purity and to keep evils away.

Kumarabhojanam:

The boy is fed along with a brahmachari after the “Yagnopaveethadhaarana”.

Brahmopadesam:

The Gayathri Manthra is a supreme manthra and protects those who recite it. The boy’s father becomes his guru and whispers into his ears this powerful ‘Gayathri Manthra’.

Soorya Darsanam:

Boy is then taken outside and shown the sun. The assumption here is that he will be protected by the sun Soorya deva.

Bhikshakaranam:

The boy symbolically asks for alms of rice from his mother and other women. Bhikshakaranam was done to make one humble and control the ego. It enables the young Vatu to control the senses, which is absolutely essential for receiving Vedic Knowledge.

Abivathanam:

After upanayanam the boy seeks the blessings of all the elders present by saluting them on their feet with sashtaanga namaskaram. After namaskaram, the child introduces himself by his rishi, parampara, gothram, suthram and name step by step. The first person chosen for abivathanam is one’s own mother! – One who has introduced him into this world.

Thus there is a meaning to every stage of a person in life and we saw here one such stage Viz. “Upanayanam”. Let’s be aware of the inside facts of the activities involved in performing one’s Upanayanam. It is an interesting stage in one’s life and if he chants the gayathri mantra daily and performs his duties without fail then he can reach great heights.

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com